Ghanshyam Charitra

GHANSHYAM CHARITRA
(Stories from Bhagwan Swaminarayan’s childhood)
A Textbook of the Satsang Examinations Series: 2
GHANSHYAM CHARITRA
(Stories from Bhagwan Swaminarayan’s childhood)
Gujarati Text: Prof. Ramesh M.Dave
Translation: BAPS Sadhus
Swaminarayan Aksharpith
Ahmedabad
Ghanshyam Charitra
(Stories from Bhagwan Swaminarayan’s childhood)
A textbook for the Satsang Examinations under the curriculum
set by Bochasanwasi Shri Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan
Sanstha
Inspirer: HDH Pramukh Swami Maharaj
Previous Editions: 1975, 1984, 1987, 1992, 1993, 1999, 2007
Seventh Edition 1st reprint: April 2010
Copies: 10,000 (Total: 34,000)
Price: Rs. 35.00
ISBN: 81-7526-338-5
Copyright: © SWAMINARAYAN AKSHARPITH
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in
any form or by any means without permission in writing from the publisher, except for brief quotations embodied in reviews and articles.
Published & Printed by
Swaminarayan Aksharpith
Shahibaug, Ahmedabad-4, India
Websites:
www.swaminarayan.org
www.mandir.org
www.akshardham.com
kids.baps.org
BLESSINGS
The youth movement established and nourished by Brahmaswarup
Swamishri Yogiji Maharaj has been expanding at a very rapid pace.
To satisfy the aspirations and the thirst for knowledge of the youth
joining the movement, and also to enable them to understand and
imbibe the principles of Akshar Purushottam expounded by Bhagwan
Swaminarayan; the publication division of Shri Akshar Purushottam
(Swaminarayan) Yuvak Mandal, organised under the auspices of
Bochasanwasi Shri Aksharpurushottam Sanstha, has drawn up a plan
for bringing out a series of books.
Through these books, it is intended to impart systematic, sustained
and pure knowledge in a simple language on a scholastic basis to
the children and youth of the Satsang. It is hoped that this Sanstha,
established by Brahmaswarup Shastriji Maharaj for implementing
and propagating the ideals propounded by Bhagwan Swaminarayan,
will, through this activity, preach the ideals and noble traditions of
the Sampraday and through it, the culture of the Hindu religion.
It is the aim of this Sanstha to preach and spread the divine
message of Bhagwan Swaminarayan in all corners of the world. It
is planned to bring out these booklets in different languages. We
hope that all religious-minded truth-seekers of the Sampraday and
those outside it, will welcome this activity and extend their full cooperation to it by all possible means, including monetary help.
In order to encourage children and young men, examinations are held
based on the curriculum as worked out in these booklets. Certificates
are also awarded to successful candidates. We bless Shri Ishwarcharan
Swami, Prof. Rameshbhai Dave, Kishorebhai Dave, and all others who
have co-operated in the preparation of these booklets.
Vasant Panchmi
Vikram Samvat 2028
(1972 CE), Atladra
Shastri Narayanswarupdasji
(Pramukh Swami Maharaj)
Jai Swaminarayan
PUBLISHER‘S NOTE
This publication, Ghanshyam Charitra, gives a brief
introduction to the divine childhood of Bhagwan Swaminarayan.
Known as Ghanshyam, he was loved and revered by all. Right
from birth his divinity was experienced by family, friends and
strangers.
His childhood teaches us the virtues that should be developed
from a young age. Ghanshyam’s devotion to God, sincerity
in studies, service to others, regularity, compassion and other
noble qualities convinced everyone that he was the manifest
form of God.
This interesting and inspiring collection of Ghanshyam’s
childhood stories will motivate all to develop such values in life.
The present publication is the English translation of the
Gujarati text Ghanshyam Charitra written by Prof. Ramesh M.
Dave. We thank the BAPS sadhus who have diligently produced
this latest edition. This book is one of the course books for the
Satsang Prarambha Examination.
It is our earnest prayer that all devotees will study these
books carefully, pass the examination with flying colours and,
above all, earn the blessings of Bhagwan Swaminarayan and
guru Pramukh Swami Maharaj.
- Publication Committee
Shri Swaminarayano Vijayate
*Ame sau Swãminã bãlak, marishu Swãmine mãte;
Ame sau Shrijitanã yuvak, ladishu Shrijine mãte...
Nathi
dartã
nathi
kartã,
amãrã
jãnni
parvã;
Amãre dar nathi koino, ame janmyã chhie marvã...ame 1
Ame
ã
yagna
ãrambhyo,
balidãno
ame
daishu;
Amãrã Akshar Purushottam, Gunãtit jnãnne gãishu...ame 2
Ame sau Shriji tanã putro, Akshare vãs amãro chhe;
Svadharmi bhasma choli to, amãre kshobh shãno chhe...ame 3
Juo sau motinã Swãmi, na rãkhi kai te khãmi;
Pragat Purushottam pãmi, malyã Gunãtit Swãmi...ame 4
1
* For meaning see page 95
CONTENTS
Blessings ...........................................................................iii
Publisher’s Note ................................................................iv
1.
Birth of Ghanshyam...........................................................1
2.
Childhood Exploits ............................................................3
3.
Darshan to Ramdayal ........................................................6
4.
Naming the Lord ...............................................................7
5.
A Test for the Son ..............................................................8
6.
Ghanshyam Has His Ears Pierced ......................................9
7.
A Boon for Lakshmiji .......................................................10
8.
Siddhis at His Service ......................................................12
9.
Dudhpakh Instead of Khichdi ..........................................14
10. The Barber Sees a Miracle ...............................................16
11. Kalidatt Meets His End ....................................................17
12. Curing SmallPox ..............................................................19
13. Fish Brought Back to Life ................................................20
14. Sparrows Sent into Samadhi ...........................................23
15. Monkey in a Trance .........................................................24
16. Monkeys Get a Sound Thrashing .....................................26
17. Ramdatt Is Taught a Lesson .............................................27
18. In Which Direction Are the Aspirants? ...........................30
19. Seen in Many Mandirs at the Same Time ........................31
20. The Ghost Well ................................................................33
21. The Wrestlers Are Defeated .............................................35
22. The Greedy Confectioner .................................................38
23. Khampa Talavdi ...............................................................41
24. Sixteen Signs of God .......................................................43
25. Ghanshyam Stops the Killing ...........................................47
26. The Mahout Is Saved .......................................................49
27. A New Set of Teeth ..........................................................51
28. A Feast for His Friends.....................................................53
29. Thousands Are Fed and Humbled ....................................55
30. Lakshmibai Sees a Miracle...............................................58
31. The Importance of Ekadashi ............................................61
32. Ghanshyam Is Given the Sacred Thread ..........................63
33. Ghanshyam Is Seen as Ramchandra ................................66
34. Sailing on Stone Slabs .....................................................67
35. Miracle Shown to Aunts ..................................................69
36. Ghanshyam Eats All the Food ..........................................71
37. In Search of Gauri, the Cow ............................................73
38. Walking on Water ............................................................75
39. Thieves in a Fix ...............................................................76
40. Darshan in Two Forms .....................................................78
41. The Priest’s Sight Is Restored...........................................81
42. Ghanshyam’s Daily Routine .............................................82
43. Propagating the Vishishtadvait Teachings in Kashi ..........84
44. Bhaktimata and Dharmadev Pass Away ...........................86
45. Ghanshyam Leaves Home................................................87
46. On the Banks of River Saryu............................................91
47. Oceans of Tears ...............................................................91
Glossary ...........................................................................95
Bhagwan Swaminarayan
Birth of Ghanshyam
1
1. BIRTH OF GHANSHYAM
Chhapaiya is a beautiful little village near Ayodhya, in Uttar
Pradesh. All around it there are lots of banyan, pipal, mango,
tamarind, guava and pomegranate trees. One finds a forest
of jambu trees on its outskirts. There is a constant chirping of
birds. The sweet notes of cuckoos, mena, devchaklis, parrots and
peacocks, fill the air and enliven the atmosphere. The whole
village looks enchanting with its tiny streets, and charming
mandirs and houses.
It is the night of Monday, 2 April 1781 (Chaitra sud 9,
Samvat year 1837). The time is 10 o’clock at night and there
is rejoicing in and around the house of Dharmadev. Outside
the house children are dancing with joy. Women are joyfully
flocking to Dharmadev’s house, singing and carrying large silver
plates filled with kumkum, gulal, garlands of flowers and silken
clothes in their hands. People are gathering all around the
house. Outside, the Brahmins are reciting sacred mantras in
the yagna arena. Dharmadev is donating ornaments, clothes
Celebration of Ghanshyam's birth
2
Ghanashyam Charitra
and cows to Brahmins, sages and the poor. Rows of lighted
lamps, arranged one above the other, give the whole house an
enchanting glow. Drums and pipes are playing soulful tunes.
But why are all these festivities taking place here tonight?
Because a son has been born to Dharmadev and Bhaktimata.
And it is Purna Purushottam Narayan, Supreme God, himself
who has been born to Bhaktimata. God himself has manifested
The gods shower flowers and come for darshan
Childhood Exploits
3
in the form of this newborn baby. His shining form fills the
whole house with divine light and joy. Everyone is astonished to
see such radiance. The gods shower flowers and chandan from
the sky. Seated in their heavenly chariots, they fly in to have
darshan of Dharmadev’s son. Trumpets of victory are sounded
all around.
2. CHILDHOOD EXPLOITS
There was an evil man named Kalidatt. He was foremost
among sinners. He became very upset and agitated when he
learnt that God had taken birth as a baby boy in Dharmadev’s
house.
One early morning, he ordered all his evil women
accomplices, “Go to Dharmadev’s house and kill the childGod.” So the evil women came to Chhapaiya, and started
looking for Dharmadev’s house. The demonesses were all
extremely dark in colour, with blood-red eyes, big pointed
teeth, ugly faces and frightful voices. When they found
Dharmadev’s house, they peeped in quietly, and saw
Bhaktimata feeding milk to child-God. They slowly stepped
in and, before Bhaktimata realized what was happening,
quickly lifted the child from her lap and tore away towards
the mango grove.
Hanumanji, son of the wind-god, resided in the mango
grove. Seeing evil women carrying the child-God away, he
at once got up, took a few long jumps and soon caught up
with them. He took the child from the hands of the old, evil
woman who was carrying him and then caught hold of all
the other demonesses, tied their ponytails to his own tail,
and lashed it violently against the ground. He then pulled
some of them by the hair and gave them a sound thrashing.
Others, he lifted high, whirled them round and round, and
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Ghanashyam Charitra
finally threw them to the ground. They cried with pain, and
tears in their eyes, asking for forgiveness, “Please let us go.
We shall never again come to Chhapaiya.” After their sincere
pleas, Hanumanji let them go, and they quickly scampered
off into the distance.
Hanumanji then quickly returned to the village, and gave
the child-God to Bhaktimata. He prostrated before her, and
said, “Mother, your child is God himself, and I am his humble
servant. Please call me whenever you need my help. I shall
be at your service.” Bhaktimata, who was stricken with grief,
was now greatly relieved. She took the child in her lap,
pressed him to her bosom, and cuddled him with affection.
The evil accomplices returned to Kalidatt, and gave a
report of what happened. Then they declared with one voice,
“We shall never again go to Chhapaiya to bring the child-God.
He has a servant named Hanuman. This Hanuman nearly
beat us to death.” On hearing this, Kalidatta became furious.
He sent his most senior demoness, Kotra, with instructions to
kill the child-God.
Hanumanji returns Ghanshyam to Bhaktimata
Childhood Exploits
5
The Lord’s glance burns Kotra
Kotra came and stood before Dharmadev’s house. She
waited for the child-God to be left alone. But the Lord is all
knowing. He looked at Kotra from the corner of his eyes and
she started burning instantly. “I am burning, I am dying,” she
screamed. Thus shrieking and struggling to douse the flames,
she died on the spot. And so Kotra, though as powerful as a
giant, was within a short time, destroyed by the Lord. The
children of the village were afraid on seeing Kotra’s dead
body. Everyone was speechless with fright. They all wondered
as to how such an evil woman could have come so close to
killing Dharmadev’s chid. Dharmadev and Bhaktimata were
also alarmed and took the child-God inside to rest.
6
Ghanashyam Charitra
3. DARSHAN TO RAMDAYAL
Days passed by and the Lord’s exploits were becoming more
and more astonishing. He was now two-and-a-half months old.
One day, as Bhaktimata had some work to do, she quickly
placed the child-God in the cradle, and went to the kitchen.
Soon after she was gone, the Lord sat up in the cradle. He saw
his sucker lying some distance away on the floor. He climbed
down from the cradle, crawled on his knees, picked it up and
returned to the cradle.
Dharmadev’s friend, Ramdayal, who was sitting nearby, saw
all this. He asked Dharmadev, “How old is your son?” “He is
only two-and-a-half months old,” Dharmadev replied.
On hearing this Ramdayal thought, “For sure, the boy must
be God himself. Otherwise, how could he have such awareness
at such a young age.” Thinking thus, he went to the Lord’s
cradle, and looked at him. Rays of brilliant light started coming
out of the child’s body, and the whole room was filled with
Ramdayal sees the Lord crawl out of his cradle
Naming the Lord
7
brilliance. Ramdayal was astounded. Then and there he became
convinced that the child was the incarnation of God himself.
4. NAMING THE LORD
When Lord was three months old, Sage Markandey came
to Dharmadev’s house. Dharmadev received him warmly, and
honoured him. Then Dharmadev said, “You are a renowned
and learned astrologer. So, please give my son a name and
foretell his future?”
Sage Markandey opened his astrology book, and began to
count on his fingers. After some time he smiled and said,
“Your son is born under the sign of Cancer, so his name will be
Hari. Since he has a dark complexion, he will also be known
by the name Krishna. A combination of the two makes it
into Harikrishna. People will also call him Ghanshyam. Your
son possesses all the virtues like austerity, detachment, yoga,
dharma, integrity, truthfulness and discretion, so he will also be
Sage Markandey names the Lord
8
Ghanashyam Charitra
known as Nilkanth. Your son will restore dharma on earth. He
will relieve the miseries of countless people, and thus his fame
will spread everywhere. He will grace people with samadhi, and
liberate them. He will inspire them to worship God and grant
happiness to all.”
Dharmadev was overjoyed to hear all this. He gave new
clothes, ornaments, cows and gold coins to the sage as dakshina
and bade him farewell.
5. A TEST FOR THE SON
Once, Dharmadev decided to test his son, Ghanshyam. He
asked for a small stool from Bhaktimata and then covered it
with a silk cloth. He placed a gold coin, a book and a small
sword on it. Having done so, he and Bhaktimata sat near the
stool, and waited with great interest to see which of the three
things Ghanshyam would pick up.
Within a short time, Ghanshyam got down from his
cradle, went to the stool and picked up the book. Seeing this,
Ghanshyam picks up the book
Ghanshyam has His Ears Pierced
9
Dharmadev and Bhaktimata were convinced that their son
would study and become a scholar.
6. GHANSHYAM HAS HIS EARS
PIERCED
When Ghanshyam was seven months old, Bhaktimata decided
to have his ears pierced. The next day she took Ghanshyam
out and sat on a platform by the foot of a tamarind tree just
opposite their house. The man whose job it was to pierce
Ghanshyam’s ear-lobes came along. He approached Ghanshyam
with a needle and tried gently to hold his ear. But as soon as
he gripped the ear a dazzling light radiated from Ghanshyam
which blinded the man’s eyes. Wherever he turned his eyes he
saw only the divine light. He was so frightened that he simply
screamed.
Just then, Ghanshyam withdrew the light back into his body
and disappeared from his mother’s lap. His mother looked
around anxiously for him. Then she saw him sitting on a branch
Ghanshyam appears in two forms
10
Ghanashyam Charitra
of the tamarind tree. She at once called for her elder son,
Rampratapbhai, and asked him, “See, Ghanshyam is seated on
the tamarind tree. Climb up and bring him down.”
However, when Rampratapbhai climbed the tree, he was
surprised to find that Ghanshyam had disappeared and was
sitting besides his mother on the ground below. So he climbed
down. When he went back to his mother Ghanshyam was still
sitting besides her. Then when he looked up, he saw Ghanshyam
sitting up on the tree as well. Thus, for a long time, Ghanshyam
was visible to Rampratapbhai in two separate places at the same
time. The man who had come to pierce Ghanshyam’s ears was
frightened on seeing the two forms of Ghanshyam.
Then, Ghanshyam made his form on the tree disappear, and
said, “Mother, I shall have my ears pierced if you give me some
gur to eat.”
On hearing this, Bhaktimata said, “You will certainly get
some gur provided you behave properly and sit still to have
your ears pierced.” So saying, she sent for some gur from inside
the house, and gave it to Ghanshyam. Thereupon, Ghanshyam
sat on his mother’s lap quietly and, while eating gur, allowed
his ears to be pierced.
7. A BOON FOR LAKSHMIJI
Bhaktimata was now teaching Ghanshyam how to walk.
One day, she held him by the hand and made him walk in
the courtyard outside the house. After walking for some time,
Ghanshyam was tired and sat down in the courtyard.
At that time Lakshmiji was passing across the sky with
her friends. When she saw Ghanshyam, she told one of her
friends, “Take the form of a sparrow, and go and sit at the
door of Ghanshyam’s house. Then when Ghanshyam comes
to catch you, fly away and sit at some other place. Thus,
A Boon for Lakshmiji
11
make Ghanshyam run around, but don’t get caught.” So saying
Lakshmiji hid in the sky to watch Ghanshyam and the bird.
Soon a sparrow came hopping around and sat at the door
of Ghanshyam’s house. Ghanshyam at once stretched out his
hand, and deftly caught the sparrow in his hand. The sparrow
Ghanshyam blesses Lakshmiji and her friend
12
Ghanashyam Charitra
flapped and fluttered very hard, but could not free itself from
Ghanshyam’s clutches, and so screamed aloud.
When Bhaktimata saw this, she became nervous, for if the
sparrow pecked at Ghanshyam’s soft hand, it might bleed. So
she snatched the sparrow from Ghanshyam’s hand, and as soon
as she put it down on the ground a beautiful maiden sprang up
from the sparrow.
She bowed to Ghanshyam and said, “I am Lakshmiji’s friend.
She had asked me to take the form of a sparrow and come
and play with you. I am afraid my beak may have struck you
in the palm. Please forgive me.” Ghanshyam forgave her and
blessed her. At that time Lakshmiji also arrived. She bowed to
Ghanshyam with folded hands, and humbly requested him,
“Please allow me the chance to serve you.”
Ghanshyam agreed to her request, “Come to Kathiawad when
I go there and I shall fulfil your desire.” Lakshmiji was delighted
to hear this and, after receiving Ghanshyam’s blessings, she
went away joyfully.
8. SIDDHIS AT HIS SERVICE
Ghanshyam had a maternal aunt named Lakshmibai. One
morning she asked Bhaktimata. “What shall I cook today?”
Bhaktimata replied, “There is no hurry. When you find time you
may cook shiro.” So Lakshmibai went to the kitchen, and leisurely
began to prepare food. Hours passed and the meal was still not
ready. Bhaktimata was very hungry. Ghanshyam came to know
that his mother was hungry. So, he instructed the eight Siddhis
to bring food at once. In no time, all the eight Siddhis descended
from the sky. They were extremely beautiful, like the apsaras of
heaven. They had put on fine, colourful dresses, and each one of
them carried a plate in her hands. The plates were full of thirtytwo delicious delicacies.
Siddhis at His Service
13
Bhaktimata was surprised to see these beautiful women in
her house. The Siddhis said, “Mother, we are the Siddhis. As
you were feeling hungry, Ghanshyam instructed us to bring food
for you. We have brought many delicious dishes on these plates.
Please eat some.”
Despite the request from the Siddhis, Bhaktimata hesitated.
When Ghanshyam saw this, he came down from his cradle, ate
a little from each plate himself, and then said to his mother,
“You also eat.” So, Bhaktimata also ate. No sooner had she
finished, then Lakshmibai came from the kitchen with hot shiro.
The eight Siddhis serve delicious delicacies to Ghanshyam and Bhaktimata
14
Ghanashyam Charitra
She was greatly surprised to see the eight Siddhis there, with
plates full of many varieties of food.
Then the Siddhis offered to bring food every day. They
said, “Mother, we shall bring delicacies for you everyday.”
But the Lord told them, “Do not bring food everyday but
only when aunty is unable to cook the day’s meal in time.”
Each one of the Siddhis then bowed at Ghanshyam’s feet and
disappeared into the sky.
9. DUDHPAKH INSTEAD OF
KHICHDI
One afternoon Ghanshyam felt hungry and asked Bhaktimata
for some food to eat. She promptly gave him some cold khichdi.
“Start eating this slowly, dear, while I bring some milk,” she
said, and went to the cow-pen.
There was a cow named Gomti in the pen. She was milked
twice a day – in the morning and evening. Bhaktimata tried to
milk her, but no milk flowed from her udders. In the meantime,
Ghanshyam came to the cow-pen with a glass in his hands.
Seeing him Bhaktimata told him, “The milk will take some time,
so go back and wait patiently.”
However, Gomti was very fond of Ghanshyam. If Ghanshyam
wanted to drink milk, she would give it at any time. So when
Ghanshyam held the glass under the cow’s udders, a stream
of milk started flowing, and the glass became full in no time.
Seeing this Bhaktimata was amazed. She rushed inside and
brought a metal pot. And when she held it in place, it too
became full, but still the milk did not stop flowing. Again,
Bhaktimata went in and brought a bigger pot. That too was
filled up in no time. Bhaktimata now started worrying that if
the flow did not stop, all the vessels in the house would be
filled only with milk.
Dudhpakh Instead of Khichdi
15
However, Ghanshyam put her fears at ease, “Mother, don’t
worry, now you will not have to fetch any more vessels.
This milk flowed because of my wish, but now it will stop
flowing.”
Still, Bhaktimata thought, “What if the flow of milk does not
stop?” So, she again went to the kitchen to fetch a pot. When
she returned with the pot, the milk had stopped flowing.
Bhaktimata was astounded to witness such a miracle;
but naturally she felt proud of her son. She thought, “Since
there is so much milk, let me prepare some dudhpak.” So
she told Ghanshyam, “Now you need not eat cold khichdi. I
shall quickly prepare dudhpak and puri.” Within a short time
Bhaktimata cooked a meal of dudhpak and puri and lovingly
fed Ghanshyam.
Gomti gives milk to Ghanshyam
16
Ghanashyam Charitra
10. THE BARBER SEES A MIRACLE
Ghanshyam was now in his third year. Dharmadev decided
that it was time to tonsure Ghanshyam’s head. So, at an
auspicious time the next morning, he sent for Amai, the barber.
The latter soon turned up with his shaving kit.
Bhaktimata took Ghanshyam in her lap and sat down facing
east. Amai took out his razor and began to shave Ghanshyam’s
head. When the shaving was half finished, Ghanshyam
became invisible to the barber. While everyone else could see
Ghanshyam sitting in his mother’s lap, Amai alone could not
see him. So he got alarmed and stopped shaving. Seeing this,
Bhaktimata told him, “What are you waiting for? Come on,
finish the shaving.”
Amai replied nervously, “What can I do, Mataji? How can
I shave Ghanshyam when I cannot see him?” Hearing this,
Bhaktimata whispered to Ghanshyam, “A half-shaven head does not
look good. So do let him finish the shaving. Reappear to Amai.”
Ghanshyam has his head shaved
Kalidatt Meets His End
17
Thereupon, Ghanshyam looked at Amai and became visible
to him. Amai then went on to complete the shave. He was
by now convinced that the child was God himself, and so he
prostrated before him, received his blessings, and departed.
Ghanshyam then took a bath in the Narayan Sarovar.
Dharmadev made donations to the Brahmins and distributed
patasa to all. He then became engaged in the dinner
arrangements for the Brahmins.
11. KALIDATT MEETS HIS END
As Dharmadev and Bhaktimata were busy with their work,
they forgot about Ghanshyam for sometime. Ghanshyam’s
friends came running to him so they could play together.
They all went to the mango garden, east of Narayan Sarovar,
laughing and jumping, and began to play ambli-pipli. As they
were playing the evil Kalidatt arrived there. He decided that he
would carry away all the children, and kill Ghanshyam.
And so he stretched out his hand to catch hold of
Ghanshyam. Ghanshyam looked at Kalidatt, who began to
burn. This made him angry and so, with his magical powers,
Kalidatt created a severe cyclone which brought torrential rains.
Everything was plunged into darkness. The children began
to shiver because of the cold. Kalidatt made loud shrieks to
frighten the children. All the children hid themselves in the
hollow of a big banyan tree.
But Ghanshyam went and sat under a mango tree that was
a short distance away. Kalidatt was shouting and searching for
Ghanshyam. First he saw Ghanshyam sitting under the mango
tree and then, to his surprise, he saw him sitting on the tree.
So he enlarged his body high up into the sky, and wilfully fell
on the tree with tremendous force. Many branches fell with a
crash. Kalidatt laughed in triumph, thinking that Ghanshyam
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Ghanashyam Charitra
had been completely crushed under the tree. He then started
removing the fallen branches one by one in the hope of finding
Ghanshyam’s shattered body. But Ghanshyam was sitting
unscathed, with the fallen branches as his protection.
Kalidatt tries to destroy Ghanshyam
Curing Smallpox
19
Kalidatt was mystified and also terribly angry at the sight. He
stretched out his arms to catch Ghanshyam.
Seeing this, Ghanshyam shot one burning glance at Kalidatt.
Almost immediately, Kalidatt found his body lifted by an unknown
force and hurled against the tree repeatedly, until he fell dead.
Then, by his divine power, Ghanshyam stopped the
cyclone and rain. The weather became bright and clear again.
Ghanshyam’s friends came out of the hollow of the banyan tree,
and searched for Ghanshyam.
Meanwhile, Bhaktimata remembered Ghanshyam. Along
with Dharmadev, she began to look for him anxiously, and at
last came to the mango tree. There they found him. Bhaktimata
lifted her son and fondly cuddled him. Finding Ghanshyam
back in their midst the children also rejoiced, and laughing and
jumping as before, returned home.
12. CURING SMALLPOX
It was summer time and the heat was excessive. Ghanshyam
was down with fever, so he did not take any food. When news
of this reached Aunt Chandamasi, she came to enquire about
him. When she saw Ghanshyam she realized that he had
smallpox. So she advised her sister, Bhaktimata, “Ghanshyam
has smallpox, so put him to bed in one of the more secluded
rooms.”
Bhaktimata at once put Ghanshyam to sleep and began
to pray. Then her sister-in-law, Lakshmibai, came to see
Ghanshyam. Realizing that Ghanshyam had a high fever and
smallpox, she said, “It will be advisable not to allow him to go
out, or to wash, or even to touch water for twenty days.”
When Ghanshyam heard this, he said, “How can I go without
my usual bath? We are Brahmins, and so must take a bath every
day. So, please bring some cold water. When I’ll take a cold
20
Ghanashyam Charitra
Ghanshyam bathes in cold water and is cured of smallpox
water bath the smallpox and the fever will both disappear.”
Bhaktimata believed his words. She took him to the well, and
drew cold water for him. After pouring a few buckets of cold
water on him, she felt his body and found that the smallpox
had subsided and the fever too had gone down. Only a few dim
spots were left on the body. Seeing the miraculous recovery,
both Chandamasi and Lakshmibai thought that Ghanshyam
must surely be God himself. They bowed to him, smiled and
went back home.
13. FISH BROUGHT BACK TO LIFE
One day in Chhapaiya, Ghanshyam called out to his friends,
Veni, Madhav and Prag and proposed, “Let us go to Meen Lake
for a bath.” The friends were delighted. Then the four of them
went to Meen lake. A banyan tree stood on the banks of the
lake. The boys changed their clothes in the shadow of the tree.
Meanwhile, Ghanshyam’s eyes fell on a lone fisherman.
The fisherman realizes his mistakes and seeks Ghanshyam ‘s blessings
Fish Brought Back to Life
21
22
Ghanashyam Charitra
He was a dark, tall, well-built man. He was catching fish
and putting them in a basket. Ghanshyam saw a pile of fish in
the basket. His heart bled at the sight of so many dead fish.
He willed that the fish became alive again. As soon as he had
wished all the fish came to life and leapt back into the water.
The fisherman became very angry. He rushed towards
Ghanshyam to beat him up. Ghanshyam thought that the
arrogance of a proud man must be dissolved; one who kills
living beings must be punished. So he took the form of Yam
Raja, the god of death, and walked up to the fisherman.
Yam Raja’s appearance was frightening and awesome. He
had a big moustache, sharp protruding teeth, blood-red eyes
and a long tongue that hung out of his mouth. He had
eighteen hands; each armed with different weapons: sword,
spear, trident, etc.
The fisherman became terrified at the sight of Yam Raja. His
hands and legs began to tremble. Perspiration ran down his
face and body. Yam Raja showed him a vision of hell and the
punishments that await the wicked and the sinful in Yampuri –
hell. Then he got him soundly thrashed by his attendants. The
fisherman’s bones ached and he screamed in pain, “Please save
me, please let me go.”
The fisherman had finally realized his mistake. He asked
for forgiveness and prayed to Ghanshyam, “My bones are
all aching. I am frightened and shiver all over when I think
of Yampuri and the terrors of hell. I have made a mistake.
Please forgive me. I shall not henceforth kill fish. You are God
incarnate. Please set me free from my past sins.” So saying, he
prostrated before Ghanshyam. Ghanshyam blessed him, and
let him go.
Ghanshyam and his friends then had their bath in the lake
and returned home.
Sparrows Sent into Samadhi
23
14. SPARROWS SENT INTO
SAMADHI
Near Chhapaiya is Targaam. On its outskirts was a field
belonging to Dharmadev. One day, Dharmadev said,
“Ghanshyam, the rice in our field is now ripe. But the sparrows
are spoiling the crop. Besides, today we are going to a
neighbouring village on some urgent work. So, you go and
look after the field.” Ghanshyam readily said, “Yes.” Bhaktimata
served him food, put a cap on his head and gave him a pair of
velvet-slippers to wear. She also gave him a long stick and then
sent him out to guard the field.
Playing with his stick, Ghanshyam soon reached the field.
He climbed a jambu tree and saw hundreds of sparrows in the
field. Some were sitting on trees; some were pecking at the rice;
yet others were just flitting from place to place. Ghanshyam
thought, “I do not want to harm the sparrows. What shall I do?”
Suddenly an idea occurred to him. He made a loud sound.
Ghanshyam puts the monkey into samadhi
24
Ghanashyam Charitra
Lo and behold! All the sparrows went into samadhi. Some were
on the trees, some on the ground and some were on the rice
crop. Wherever they were and whatever they were doing, they
became still and silent at once.
While the sparrows were in samadhi, Ghanshyam went away
to Madhavram Shukla’s field nearby. There he played with his
friends, Raghuvir and Buxram. Evening fell. Dharmadev and
Rampratapbhai came to the field to fetch Ghanshyam. But
Ghanshyam was not there. They searched and searched, and at
last found him playing in the neighbouring field.
Dharmadev called him, and said in a tone of rebuke,
“What were you told? Were you not sent to look after the
crops?” Ghanshyam calmly replied, “Father, let us go to the
field and see how things are.” When they returned to the
field, they saw the sparrows transfixed in their places. Some
were lying on the ground, some were sitting on the trees,
some others had rice in their beaks. But all were hushed and
motionless. Dharmadev was greatly surprised and wondered
whether all the sparrows had suddenly died in his farm.
Both he and Rampratapbhai stood speechless for some time.
Ghanshyam then gave a loud call and, in an instant, all the
sparrows flew away. Dharmadev and Rampratapbhai thought,
“Ghanshyam is the supreme God and this must be his doing.
The lives of all living beings are in his hands.” Thinking this
they returned home with Ghanshyam.
15. MONKEY IN A TRANCE
As the harassment by evil people was increasing Dharmadev
decided to leave Chhapaiya and go to Ayodhya. He put all the
furniture and other household goods in a decorated cart, and
the whole family left for Ayodhya. After a while, they reached
the bank of the River Saryu. The luggage was then placed in a
Monkey in a Trance
25
boat. And the boat carrying the family soon reached Ayodhya
on the opposite bank of the Saryu. There, they took a beautiful
house in the Barhatta Street of the town.*
One evening Ghanshyam sat next to Dharmadev for dinner.
Bhaktimata was serving them. Just then a monkey on a tree
opposite saw Ghanshyam eating his meal. Crying ‘Hoop, hoop,
hoop,’ the monkey came up to the verandah and with a sudden
dash, carried away a whole lot of chapattis. He then took
another long jump and got back on to the tree. As the monkey
sat munching the chapattis, Ghanshyam gave the monkey a
steady look, and the monkey went into samadhi straight away
with the chapattis still in his hands. For three days the monkey
remained in samadhi, and sat there motionless.
After three days he woke up, hopped to Ghanshyam’s house,
and sat at his feet with folded hands. Ghanshyam blessed him
and also gave him something to eat. The monkey then went
back quietly and contentedly to the tree.
Ghanshyam awakens the birds from samadhi
26
Ghanashyam Charitra
16. MONKEYS GET A SOUND
THRASHING
Once Ghanshyam took some puris and yogurt on a plate
and sat down to eat in the verandah. A mischievous monkey
came up with a leap, snatched some puris from Ghanshyam’s
plate and leapt back to a branch of the tamarind tree and
sat there. Ghanshyam stretched out his hand, caught hold of
the monkey by the neck and threw him to the ground. The
monkey yelled with pain.
On hearing the yells, a score of other monkeys came running
up. They all hooted and jumped to attack Ghanshyam. Slowly
they surrounded him from all sides. Dharmadev saw this.
Fearing that the monkeys might kill Ghanshyam, he went inside
to fetch a stick.
In the meantime, Ghanshyam assumed as many separate
forms of himself as there were monkeys. Then each of his
forms ran after one of the monkeys. The monkeys became
Ghanshyam catches the monkeys
Ramdatt Is Taught a Lesson
27
frightened at seeing so many forms of Ghanshyam. Ghanshyam
hurled some of the monkeys away by catching hold of their
ears, and some by catching their leg. Yet others he threw by
the tail, and some he grabbed by the mouth and pushed them
away. The rest shrieked and yelled out in fright, and ran away
as fast as they could. Ghanshyam then made all his other
forms disappear.
In a short while, his father came out with a big stick. He
found that all the monkeys had run away. He was delighted to
see that Ghanshyam had somehow got rid of all of them. With
this miracle he became quite sure that his son was no other
than God himself.
17. RAMDATT IS TAUGHT A LESSON
One day Ghanshyam told his friends, “Let us go for a bath
in the lake.” The boys got ready and, led by Ghanshyam,
they all went to the lake. All of them jumped into the water,
played hide and seek, swam for a long time, and in the end
felt very hungry.
Ghanshyam then took his friends to the mango grove.
There was a big mango tree by the roadside with many ripe,
tempting mangoes. Ghanshyam climbed up the tree, while
his friends waited below. Ghanshyam began to pluck the
ripe mangoes from the tree, and throw them down to Veni,
Madhav and Prag, who caught them in a cloth stretched out
under the tree. The rest of the boys kept watch.
Meanwhile, a group of Brahmins came by, led by their
leader called Ramdatt. He was a tall, tough man. He told
his companions, “All of you start picking up these mangoes.”
Hearing this Veni stopped them, “These mangoes have been
picked by us. If you want any mangoes, pluck them from the
tree yourself.”
28
Ghanashyam Charitra
Ramdatt lost his temper. Rolling his big eyes, he tried to
scare away the boys. He even tried to snatch the mangoes
forcibly. Ghanshyam was watching all this sitting on the tree.
Seeing Ramdatt’s impudence, Ghanshyam came down quickly
Ghanshyam and his friends teach Ramdatt and the Brahmins a lesson
Ramdatt Is Taught a Lesson
29
to the lowest branch. He bent down and as Ramdatt was busy
snatching the mangoes, Ghanshyam lifted the drinking pot
that was hanging on a string from the Brahmin’s shoulder,
and rushed back to the top of the tree.
Ramdatt’s anger knew no bounds. He climbed up the tree
with the aim of catching Ghanshyam and pushing him off the
tree. But Ghanshyam made Ramdatt chase after him from
one branch to another without falling into his hands.
Ramdatt was at his wit’s end. He asked the other
Brahmins, who were standing below, “All of you climb the
tree. And then let us all make efforts to catch Ghanshyam.”
So, one by one, they all climbed up the tree, and each one
sat waiting on a separate branch. Ghanshyam then climbed
up to the topmost branch, Ramdatt also began to climb after
him to the topmost branch, but before he could reach to the
top, Ghanshyam had disappeared.
When the Brahmins looked down, they saw Ghanshyam
standing below, teasing Ramdatt by holding aloft the drinking
pot with the string. Then Ghanshyam told his friends, “Don’t
allow a single Brahmin to come down. Let us keep throwing
stones at them.” So they all began to hurl pebbles at the
Brahmins. Soon, the Brahmins became tired and completely
exhausted in their efforts to avoid the pebbles. At last they
realized their folly in challenging Ghanshyam. They thought
that this boy must surely be God himself, for how else could
his disappearance from the tree be explained? When, at last,
they beseeched him to stop the attack, Ghanshyam agreed,
and Ramdatt and his group of Brahmins were allowed to
come down.
Then Ramdatt then asked Ghanshyam to forgive them.
Ghanshyam forgave them and returned the drinking pot.
After paying homage to him, the Brahmins went on their
away.
30
Ghanashyam Charitra
18. IN WHICH DIRECTION ARE
THE ASPIRANTS?
There was a pipal tree on the outskirts of Chhapaiya.
Ghanshyam was very fond of it. Very often, he would stop
playing with his friends and climb the pipal tree. He would
sit there for a long time, looking west.
His friends could not understand this behaviour of
Ghanshyam.
One day, as usual, Ghanshyam left his friends in the
middle of a game, and climbed the pipal tree, and sat
on a high branch, and began looking west with great
Ghanshyam climbs the pipal tree and looks west
Seen in Many Mandirs at the Same Time
31
concentration. His friend, Veni, saw this. Ghanshyam sat on
the tree till late in the evening, and then got down from
the tree to go home. Immediately, Veni went up to him, put
his hand on his shoulder and asked him softly, “Ghanshyam,
what were you looking at to the west from high up on
the tree?”
Ghanshyam replied, “I was looking in the direction where
there are spiritual aspirants. Thousands of miles away
from our village, in the west, are the lands of Gujarat and
Kathiawad. Shri Krishna’s Dwarika lies there. Many aspirants
who yearn to meet God live in that region. One day I want
to go there from here. I want to see the sacred places in the
Himalayas and elsewhere in India too, but I want to live in
Kathiawad. The devotees there are calling me.”
Veni could not follow what Ghanshyam really meant. He
simply took Ghanshyam’s hand and began to walk towards
home slowly and silently.
19. SEEN IN MANY MANDIRS AT
THE SAME TIME
One day, it so happened that Ghanshyam did not come
back for lunch. Bhaktimata told Rampratapbhai, “Go
and call Ghanshyam. Rampratapbhai went straight to
Hanuman Gadhi. There the Ramayan was being narrated
and Ghanshyam was wholly engrossed in listening to it.
Rampratapbhai approached him and asked him to come
home with him. “I will come soon,” said Ghanshyam, and
asked Rampratapbhai to go.
There were many mandirs on the way. So, Rampratapbhai
thought he might as well have darshan. He entered one
of the mandirs, and to his surprise he found Ghanshyam,
sitting and listening to the Ramayan. Out of curiosity,
32
Ghanashyam Charitra
Ghanshyam listens to the Ramayan at the Hanuman Gadhi
Rampratapbhai went back to the Hanuman Gadhi mandir,
and sure enough, Ghanshyam was still sitting there. He was
amazed. Out of interest, Rampratapbhai visited the other
mandirs on the way. He saw Ghanshyam sitting in all of
them.
Rampratapbhai was greatly surprised and delighted.
Returning home, he related this miracle to Dharmadev and
Bhaktimata. All were surprised, and very happy.
Just then Ghanshyam returned home. He washed his
hands and feet, and then quietly sat down for lunch with
Dharmadev and his brothers. Bhaktimata fed Ghanshyam
with even greater love and devotion than before.
The Ghost Well
33
20. THE GHOST WELL
Once a Nawab came to Ayodhya. Whichever village he went
to, he harassed the villagers there in many ways. He kidnapped
the children, and robbed the people.
Worried about this, Dharmadev took his family to Tinwa to stay
there for a few days, and thus escape the Nawab’s tyranny. A man
called Prathit Pande lived there. His wife’s name was Vachanabai.
Dharmadev and his family went to stay with them. Vachanabai
served delicious food to Ghanshyam every day. Bhaktimata
helped her in the housework. She also drew water from the well
and brought it home in large pots. But there was danger if one
went to the well after sunset. Vachanabai warned Bhaktimata,
“You should never go to the well to fetch water after sunset. There
are thousands of ghosts in the well, and they will harass you. So
never go to the ghost well in the evening.”
Ghanshyam forgives and blesses the ghosts in the well
34
Ghanashyam Charitra
One evening, it so happened that all the water in the house had
been used up. The sun had already set, and Bhaktimata, having
forgotten there were ghosts in the well, went to fetch water. She
tied a rope around the neck of a pot, and let it down into the
well. Before the pot could touch the water, the ghosts seized it.
Bhaktimata pulled hard at the rope, but the pot would not move.
She peeped into the well, and saw thousands of ghosts. She
became terrified and hurried back home. When she returned, she
was perspiring all over with fear. Ghanshyam saw her and asked,
“What happened, mother? Why did you come back home so
hurriedly? Where did you leave the pot and the rope?” Bhaktimata
told him about the ghosts she had just seen in the well.
The next morning, Ghanshyam decided to jump into the well.
The villagers rushed to him, and tried to dissuade him, “Don’t
jump in there. The ghosts will eat you up.” But Ghanshyam did
not pay any heed to their warning, and leapt into the well. As
soon as he splashed into the water, the ghosts were startled from
their sleep. When they tried to get hold of Ghanshyam, his body
began to radiate rays of brilliant light. Soon the ghosts began to
burn due to the light.
All the ghosts pleaded, “O God! Please save us.” Ghanshyam
asked them, “How do you happen to be here?” One of the ghosts
replied, “Many years ago we were people with bad natures. We ate
meat, took liquor, gambled and told lies. We got into a big quarrel
with the king. Then it developed into heavy fighting, and we were
all slain at this very spot. But as we were sinners, we have become
ghosts and live here. Ghanshyam! You are God. Please destroy our
past sins. Please forgive us and redeem us.”
Hearing their plea, Ghanshyam pardoned their sins, delivered
them from bondage, and sent them to Badrikashram.
From then onwards the well become free from ghosts. The
village people could happily go at any time of the day to fetch
water. They all praised Ghanshyam and paid homage to him.
The Wrestlers Are Defeated
35
21. THE WRESTLERS ARE
DEFEATED
In Ayodhya, Ghanshyam practised wrestling every evening
at Rajghat with Kesarisang and other friends. One morning, as
Ghanshyam was wrestling with Kesarisang, another wrestler
named Mahabali from Nepal came. Mahabali was a tall, tough
and strongly built man. He had defeated many wrestlers in public
contests.
Seeing Ghanshyam perform various wrestling manoeuvres,
Mahabali began to laugh. So Ghanshyam challenged him to
a match. He showed that he had strength equal to that of ten
thousand elephants and defeated Mahabali. News of Mahabali’s
defeat by Ghanshyam spread throughout the city of Ayodhya
and the neighbouring villages. Ghanshyam became famous
everywhere.
The wrestlers challenge Ghanshyam
36
Ghanashyam Charitra
When some of the more renowned wrestlers of Ayodhya such
as Mansang, Dillisang and Bhimsang heard this, they went to the
king, Raidarshansinh, and said, “We shall wrestle with Ghanshyam
and defeat him.” The King advised them, “Ghanshyam may look
like a child, but he is God incarnate. Nobody can defeat God.
You will never win in a fight with him. So, give up your foolish
resolve.”
But the three wrestlers did not listen. They were adamant.
Boastfully, they said to the king, “Your Majesty, we will throw
Ghanshyam to the ground before your very eyes. Give us a reward
after seeing our wrestling and victory.”
The king agreed, “All right. Go and make preparations for the
match. I will come to see the wrestling. You boast a great deal. But
don’t get defeated and suffer disgrace.” Still, the three wrestlers
continued to boast, “Ghanshyam is nothing before us. We shall
throw him away as easily as a mosquito.”
In a short time, a proclamation was issued all over Ayodhya,
“Under the orders of His Majesty the King, the three wrestlers,
Bhimsang, Dillisang and Mansang, will fight a wrestling match
with Ghanshyam this evening at the ground next to the well by
the tamarind tree near the house of Dharmadev. His Majesty King
Raidarshansinh will be present to witness the fight. All the citizens
of Ayodhya are requested to be present.”
The royal servants started cleaning the grounds near the
well. Other servants prepared a canopy for the king. Soon all the
preparations were completed. Special seats with thick cushions
and mattresses were arranged for the king and his courtiers. Flags
and buntings were put up.
However, Dharmadev was deeply worried, “What if the giant
wrestlers kill my little son? Today, the king is coming to test my
son. What will happen?”
Seeing his father in such deep anxiety, Ghanshyam reassured
him, “Don’t be afraid, father. Don’t worry at all. God will protect
The Wrestlers Are Defeated
37
his honour.” Then Ghanshyam suddenly grew bigger and bigger,
and appeared as a giant wrestler. Then, after a while, he drew that
form within himself, and shrunk to his original size. Seeing this
Dharmadev and Bhaktimata felt certain that he would be more
than a match for the giant wrestlers, and their fears disappeared.
Evening came. Large crowds gathered to see the king, and
to witness Ghanshyam bring the pride of the three big wrestlers
down to dust. The arena was soon packed, the arrival of the king
and his courtiers was announced. Dharmadev and Rampratapbhai
also arrived with Ghanshyam.
Seeing Ghanshyam, the oldest of the three wrestlers, Bhimsang,
made a loud sound by striking his hand on his thigh, and then
roared, “Come on here into the ring. Today we shall show you
our might.”
Ghanshyam went inside the ring with a confident smile.
Bhimsang then took a huge, thick iron chain, tied it to his right
leg, and stood still in the middle of the ring. Then he spoke to the
assembled citizens, “My right leg possesses a strength equal to
that of a hundred elephants. I shall concede Ghanshyam to be the
stronger of us two if only he can make me fall or move my right leg
by pulling the chain.”
Ghanshyam first bowed at his father’s feet. Then he bent down
and lifted the chain with his left hand and with a single pull of
the chain threw Bhimsang off balance. The chain broke into two.
Bhimsang was hurled against the tamarind tree and his nose and
mouth started bleeding profusely.
On his stunning defeat, Bhimsang was fuming with rage. Taking
another chain, he challenged Ghanshyam again, “Ghanshyam, if
you think you are really that strong, then tie this chain to your
leg and stand still. Then I will pull the chain and lift you, whirl
you round and round and throw you down.” Ghanshyam replied,
“Come, I am ready.” Ghanshyam then tied the chain to his left leg
and stood still with his eyes closed.
38
Ghanashyam Charitra
Bhimsang then pulled hard at the chain, but Ghanshyam’s
leg would not move at all. Then all the three wrestlers pulled
together with all their might, but Ghanshyam’s leg did not budge
even an inch. The three then tried with renewed vigour. Their
nostrils blew up, and the knots in their loin-cloths loosened, but
Ghanshyam stood firm as a rock. Seeing this, the whole crowd
roared with laughter.
The three wrestlers were made with anger. Then, with bloodshot
eyes, they tried one last time, using all their strength in pulling the
chain. Then suddenly, the chain broke into pieces, and the three
men fell to the ground with a deafening thud. They were badly
hurt. They could not even get up. All this time Ghanshyam was
standing motionless at the same spot, with a smile on his face.
King Raydarshansinh then stood up to proclaim Ghanshyam’s
victory, and gifted him with clothes and ornaments. He
distributed sweets to the people. The king asked the three
wrestlers to apologize to Ghanshyam for bragging about their
strength. Thereupon, the three wrestlers asked for pardon from
Ghanshyam, and promised, “From now on we will never boast
about our strength. You are God incarnate, please forgive our
mistake.” Ghanshyam blessed them. Thereafter, the king seated
Dharmadev and Ghanshyam on an elephant, and took them
triumphantly around the city in a procession. Every house in
Ayodhya celebrated Ghanshyam’s victory.
22. THE GREEDY CONFECTIONER
One morning Suvasinibhabhi (Rampratapbhai’s wife) was busy
in the kitchen cooking food. Ghanshyam entered the kitchen and
said to his Bhabhi, “Bhabhi! Bhabhi! I am very hungry. Quickly
give me some food.”
Bhabhi replied, “The food will be ready in a little while. But if
you are very hungry, shall I give you some grams or sukhdi?”
The Greedy Confectioner
39
But Ghanshyam did not want that. He insisted that he wanted
to eat pendas. Suvasinibhabhi was very surprised. Ghanshyam’s
nature of not saying anything even when he was hungry. And he
did not like sweet foods. But today, Ghanshyam was asking for
pendas. Taking her ring off her finger, she put it on a stool nearby,
and proceeded in preparing dough for chapattis.
Smiling, she said, “If you want to eat pendas, go to the
confectioner. There are none here.”
Ghanshyam said, “Yes, yes, I am going there.” With this,
he grabbed her ring and ran away. Suvasinibhabhi was
startled and ran to catch Ghanshyam. But he could not be
caught. He made her run from one room to another and
then to another and so on. She threatened, “Your elder
brother will beat you for stealing the ring to eat pendas.” But
Ghanshyam replied, “How can you say I have stolen your
ring? I took it before your very eyes.”
The confectioner is surprised to see all the baskets full.
40
Ghanashyam Charitra
Bhabhi realized that it was not possible to catch Ghanshyam.
So she locked the room door from outside and trapped him inside.
But when she turned around, she saw Ghanshyam standing in the
courtyard outside, laughing and showing her the ring.
“What is this? I just locked him inside, so how did he come
out?” she wondered.
Ghanshyam ran out of the house with the ring and went
directly to the confectionery shop. Holding the ring before him he
said, “If you give me all the sweets, I will give you this ring.”
The confectioner greedily eyed the gold ring. He filled all
the sweets in baskets and gave it to Ghanshyam in exchange
for the ring. Ghanshyam took the basket and feasted with his
friends in a farm.
After a while, Dharmadev and Rampratapbhai returned home.
They heard about Ghanshyam’s mischief and became angry. At
that time Ghanshyam came running inside and sat directly in
Bhaktimata’s lap.
Rampratapbhai asked him, “Where is the ring, Ghanshyam?”
“I don’t know anything about the ring,” Ghanshyam replied.
Rampratapbhai slapped him and Ghanshyam broke down
crying. Suvasinibhabhi ran and picked up Ghanshyam. Bhaktimata
also intervened. Eventually, everyone went to the confectionery
shop, together with Ghanshyam. Dharmadev and Rampratapbhai
asked the confectioner, “Has Ghanshyam given you a ring?”
The confectioner replied, “I have given him all the sweets in my
shop in exchange for the ring. Look inside, everything is empty.”
Crying, Ghanshyam said, “No, no, he is lying. I have not
taken his sweets. Let us go inside his shop.” So, Ghanshyam
held Dharmadev’s and Rampratapbhai’s hands and led them
into the shop.
Inside, Ghanshyam said, “See, all the sweets are here. All the
baskets are full.”
Everyone saw that the baskets of sweets were untouched.
Khampa Talavdi
41
The confectioner was surprised on seeing this. He folded his
hands and said to Dharmadev, “Dharmadev! This son of yours
is very great.”
Then, taking the ring, everyone happily returned home.
23. KHAMPA TALAVDI
Once, Ghanshyam went to Targaam with Rampratapbhai and
Suvasinibhabhi. There was a small forest at a short distance away
from the house, and in the middle of it there was a beautiful little
pond. The tank was surrounded by green grass and many lovely
flowers and trees. Cowhands took their cattle to graze in the
surrounding fields. Ghanshyam used to go there every evening
to play. He would climb trees, and play hide and seek with his
friends. They would also pick roses, jasmine and other flowers.
All his friends would make a garland of flowers and put it around
Ghanshyam’s neck.
One evening, Ghanshyam was standing near the pond. The
cowhands were returning home with their cows. Ghanshyam
called out to the cows, and they all came running, and stood
round him. The cowhands tried very hard to call them back,
but they would not budge from where they were standing near
Ghanshyam. Ghanshyam patted and caressed the cows for a while,
and then said to them, “You can go now.” The cows promptly
obeyed, turned around, and went home mooing.
After the cows were gone, Ghanshyam climbed the tamarind
tree by the banks of the pond and played there for some time.
Then, as he was climbing down, his foot slipped and a sharp
broken branch on the tree pierced his right thigh. Ghanshyam fell
near the edge of the water with his wound blleeding intensely.
This alarmed his friends. One of them, Sukhnandan, ran to call
Rampratapbhai. Meanwhile, Indra, Brahma, Vishnu, Chandra and
the other devas came down from the sky. Indra at once summoned
The divine physicians treat Ghanshyam ‘s injury
42
Ghanashyam Charitra
Sixteen Signs of God
43
Ashwini Kumar, the physician of the devas. Ashwini Kumar came
hurriedly and bandaged the wound. Then all the devas bowed to
Ghanshyam and disappeared into the sky.
Just then, Rampratapbhai arrived on the scene with
Sukhanandan. He saw a bandage around Ghanshyam’s thigh,
“Who gave you the treatment? Who applied the bandage?” he
enquired anxiously. Veni replied, “Ashwini Kumar, the physician of
the devas came down from the sky, and applied the medicine and
bandage.” Rampratapbhai was overjoyed when he heard this. He
then took Ghanshyam on his shoulder, and brought him home.
Suvasinibhabhi was waiting anxiously for Ghanshyam. When
she saw him, she at once took him in her arms, and embraced
him lovingly. Then she asked him, “Where is the injury?”
He replied, “I have not been injured at all,” and opened the
bandage. Suvasinibhabhi did not see any injury, but there was
a faint mark at the spot where the branch had pierced. She was
greatly delighted.
Ever since this incident occurred the pond has been known as
‘Khampa Talavdi’; where Khampa means the ‘broken branch’ and
Talavadi means ‘pond’.
24. SIXTEEN SIGNS OF GOD
Once, Dharmadev and Bhaktimata went on a pilgrimage
taking their three sons with them. Vasantabai and Chandanmasi
also accompanied them. On the way they came to a village called
Gunda. It had a small mandir with a small murti of Thakorji. In
the evening, at arti time, Dharmadev took his three sons to the
mandir for Thakorji’s darshan. The bells rang, the gongs sounded,
and the drums rolled. The arti of Thakorji began. Ghanshyam was
standing in front of the murti, doing Thakorji’s darshan.
Just then the murti of Thakorji stepped down from the
throne and came to Ghanshyam. Thakorji then took off the
44
Ghanashyam Charitra
garland from his own neck and put it around Ghanshyam’s neck,
then he returned to his throne. The pujari, Dharmadev and all
the devotees who had come for Thakorji’s darshan witnessed
the miracle. Soon, news of the miracle spread throughout the
whole village.
The murti of Thakorji garlands Ghanshyam
Sixteen Signs of God
45
Eventually, the news reached King Gumansinh. The next
morning, the king decided to test Ghanshyam. So he sent a
messenger to deliver an order that Dharmadev, with his three
sons, should present himself at the king’s house at ten o’clock in
the morning. Accordingly, Dharmadev arrived with his three sons
at the appointed hour.
The king asked Dharmadev, “Which of your three sons is
Ghanshyam, who had shown the miracle to all.” Dharmadev put
his hand on Ghanshyam’s head and said, “This is my middle son
Ghanshyam.”
The king thought to himself, “If Ghanshyam is God incarnate,
then two tests will settle the issue. First, it is mentioned in the
shastras that God does not cast a shadow. Secondly, they also say
that there are sixteen sacred marks on God’s feet. So, we can
easily decide whether Ghanshyam is really God incarnate or not.
If he is not, then surely there is fraud and deception here.”
Thinking thus, the king called Dharmadev and Ghanshyam out
into the open compound where there was bright sunshine. To the
king’s amazement Ghanshyam did not have a shadow, whereas
Dharmadev had one.
Then the king asked Ghanshyam to sit with his legs stretched
out. Ghanshyam sat on a seat with his legs straightened out. On
Ghanshyam’s right sole there were nine signs, namely, ashtakon,
urdhva rekha, swastik, jambu, jav, vajra, ankush, ketu and padma.
On the instep of his left foot were seven signs, namely, trikon,
kalash, gopad, dhanush, meen, ardhachandra and vyom. Moreover,
the urdhvarekha or the vertical line on both the feet emerged
from between the big toe and the first toe and reached towards
the heel. The king was now convinced that Ghanshyam was really
God incarnate. His joy knew no bounds.
The Queen, Kunvarba, was also overjoyed and they both bowed
at Ghanshyam’s feet. Then they ordered a beautiful bed with silk
cushions and seated Dharmadev and Ghanshyam on it. Then
46
Ghanashyam Charitra
they worshipped both father and son by applying sandalwood
paste and kumkum to their foreheads, and offering flowers. They
performed arti of Ghanshyam and presented him with a velvet
cap embroidered with gold threads and a surval. Then they bade
them farewell with great respect.
On the third day, Dharmadev and Bhaktimata left on a
pilgrimage of other sacred places, along with their three sons.
In the course of their journey, they passed through Lucknow and
Kanpur, and then headed back to Ayodhya. Ichchharamji was
the youngest of the three brothers. He had not yet learnt how
to walk with ease. So Vasantabai carried him in her arms, while
Ghanshyam walked holding his mother’s hand.
Once, on the way, Ghanshyam protested to Bhaktimata “Why
does carry Ichchharam have to be carried, and why not me?”
Bhaktimata tried to explain to him, “Ichchharam is the youngest
and weighs little. He has not even learnt how to walk as yet,
whereas you can walk easily. Besides, you are too heavy to lift.
So, you should walk.” Ghanshyam still insisted, “I am not heavy at
all! I am also very tired now. Actually Ichchharam is heavier than
me. So, why does he have to be carried?”
So saying, Ghanshyam used his powers to increase Ichchharam’s
weight so that Vasantabai had to put Ichchharam down. She
remarked to Bhaktimata, “Why has Ichchharam suddenly become
so heavy? He does not feel so heavy every day!”
Bhaktimata smilingly replied, “It is all due to Ghanshyam’s divine
power. Since he does not want to walk he has made Ichchharam
very heavy. Chandamasi, please carry Ghanshyam in your arms for a
while. Then everything will become normal as before.”
Chandamasi lifted Ghanshyam in her arms and carried him.
She did not feel any weight at all. And when Vasantabai carried
Ichchharam again, she discovered that his weight had become
normal. Seeing such pranks of Ghanshyam, Dharmadev and
Bhaktimata started laughing.
Ghanshyam Stops the Killing
47
25. GHANSHYAM STOPS
THE KILLING
Baldidhar was brother-in-law of Dharmadev. Baldidhar and
his brother, Morligangadhar, were both serving as sepoys in the
army of the local king.
Once the king’s army came to Ballampadhari village.
Dharmadev thought that since Ballampadhari was very near
Ayodhya, he would go and see Baldidhar and Morligangadhar.
So, he left for Ballampadhari, taking Ghanshyam and
Rampratapbhai with him.
The king’s army had camped in a garden on the outskirts
of Ballampadhari village. A watchman was standing at the
entrance of the garden. Dharmadev told the watchman, “We
want to see Baldidhar and Morligangadhar. They are sepoys in
the king’s army. Kindly take us to where they are.”
The watchman readily agreed, “Just follow me. I will take
you to them.” He then took them to a pipal tree. There was a
big tent near the pipal tree. The king was sitting in the tent with
some of his men, and had just ordered the killing of some goats,
cows and other animals.
Seeing the heartless slaughter going on inside the tent,
Dharmadev was overwhelmed with anguish. Ghanshyam
saw his father’s grief-stricken face and inquired, “What has
happened, father?” Dharmadev pointed to the door of the
tent. When Ghanshyam looked inside, he saw animals being
butchered. He felt immense pity for the animals. He made a
wish to put an end to the killing. The moment he so wished, all
the horses and elephants in the king’s army broke loose from
their chains and madly rushed towards the tent. While some
of the elephants uprooted the tents with their trunks, others
rushed inside them.
The whole village was filled with the noise and clamour
48
Ghanashyam Charitra
of neighing horses and trumpeting elephants. The sepoys in
the tent ran for their lives. The king, who was sitting in the
tent bare-chested, also ran for his life when he saw the mad
elephants. Then, while he ran his dhoti became loose, but he
managed to hold it in place with his hand. The king hid himself
beneath the pipal tree. But the elephant came running towards
the tree. On seeing this the king climbed up the tree to safety
and the elephant turned and went away.
Then, with his divine powers, Ghanshyam shook the pipal
tree vigorously. All the branches shook, and the leaves started
falling down. The king trembled with fear. When he looked
down, the whole earth seemed to be shaking. At once, he started
repenting for his sins, and began to cry loudly. He prayed, “Oh,
God! Please save me.” He was afraid that he would soon be
thrown off the tree and get killed.
When the king pleaded repeatedly, Ghanshyam, entered the
tree and spoke to the king, “You and your army are committing
grave sins by killing innocent animals. I am, therefore, very
The elephant chases the cruel king
The Mahout Is Saved
49
angry with you. If you want to live, take a pledge here and now
that you will never kill again. Otherwise, you are doomed. The
God to whom you are praying is actually standing opposite this
tree next to Dharmadev, in the form of Ghanshyam. Ask him to
forgive you and you will be instantly freed.”
Hearing these words, the king was speechless. He realized
that he should obey God’s wishes. And so he vowed that from
then on he would never kill any innocent animals or allow
anybody else in his army to do so. He pledged, “Oh God! I take
a solemn oath that henceforth I shall never kill or allow any
killing.” Hearing the king’s prayer, Ghanshyam felt compassion
for him. immediately he stopped shaking the pipal tree. All the
elephants and horses then went back quietly to their places to
eat grass.
The king slowly got down from the tree. He fell to his knees
before Ghanshyam and pleaded, “O Ghanshyam! You are God.
I am your humble servant. Please forgive my faults and sins. I
shall never kill again.”
After the king had spoken Ghanshyam blessed him. The
king then bowed to Ghanshyam and Dharmadev and went
back to his tent to rest. Dharmadev then met Baldidhar and
Morligangadhar, before returning to Ayodhya with Ghanshyam
and Rampratapbhai.
26. THE MAHOUT IS SAVED
There was a very wealthy man named Baldevji who lived
in Ayodhya. He had tamed a strong elephant and employed a
mahout to look after him. But the mahout daily stole the sweets
from the food meant for the elephant, and thus deprived it of
some of its daily food.
The elephant saw this day after day. Then one day it became
furious. At noon that day the mahout had taken the elephant
50
Ghanashyam Charitra
to the lake, as usual, for a bath. He led the elephant into the
water and started scrubbing its body with a tile. Deciding to
take revenge, the elephant lifted the mahout with its trunk, and
held him high up in the air with the intention of dashing him
against the water.
People standing on the banks of the lake saw this and
were horrified. Just then, Dharmadev was passing by with
Ghanshyam. Ghanshyam saw the disasterr that would befall the
mahout and felt compassion for him. So, he at once assumed
another form, entered the water, and went up to the elephant.
He first freed the mahout from the elephant’s trunk. Then he
pacified the elephant, gently mounted on it and walked it out
of the water.
Once out of the water, the elephant walked like a humble
cow. The people on the banks saw the miracle. They were also
amazed to see Ghanshyam in two separate forms. When the
elephant came out of the water, the second form of Ghanshyam
disappeared. Then the original form of Ghanshyam mounted
Ghanshyam saves the mahout
A New Set of Teeth
51
the elephant and rode it home. There, the mahout ordered
the elephant to bend down. When the elephant bent down
obediently, Ghanshyam dismounted.
The mahout bowed to Ghanshyam with deep devotion and
said, “O Ghanshyam! Had you not calmed the elephant and
saved me from its wrath today, I would surely have died. You
are God. I shall not henceforth steal its food.” Ghanshyam
thereupon blessed the mahout and entered his home.
27. A NEW SET OF TEETH
One day, Ghanshyam told Suvasinibhabhi, “Bhabhi, my molar
teeth are paining severely. I cannot chew chapattis. So, please
prepare shiro for me instead.” Suvasinibhabhi said, “Fine.”
Shiro was soon ready and Suvasinibhabhi called all the
members of the family to eat. She served chapattis to Dharmadev,
Rampratapbhai and Ichchharam, while to Ghanshyam she
served the soft shiro. Ghanshyam gave some shiro to his younger
brother, Ichchharam. Then he ate just one or two morsels of
shiro, leaving the rest on the plate. Thereafter Ghanshyam
washed his hands. Seeing this, Suvasinibhabhi called him out
into the courtyard behind the kitchen, and enquired, “Dear
brother! Is your molar tooth giving you too much trouble?”
Ghanshyam replied, “Yes, Bhabhi, it is paining a lot. It is
also loose. If you pull out all the loose teeth then it will lessen
my pain.” So saying, he opened his mouth and, with his divine
powers, loosened all his teeth. Suvasinibhabhi put her fingers
into his mouth to pull out the loose molar tooth. Quickly she
pulled it out. Then Ghanshyam said to her, “Bhabhi, this other
tooth is also loose and gives me a lot of pain, please pull it out
too.” Thus, one by one, Ghanshyam had all his teeth removed.
When Suvasinibhabhi saw the toothless mouth of Ghanshyam she
became worried. She called out to Bhaktimata and, pointing to
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Ghanashyam Charitra
Ghanshyam’s mouth, told her, “Mother, Ghanshyam complained
to me that he had a toothache, and that his teeth were loose.
So, he made me pull them all out. Now how will he eat?” When
Bhaktimata saw the little heap of teeth, she too became worried.
She told Ghanshyam, “Open your mouth.” When Ghanshyam
opened his mouth, both she and Suvasinibhabhi were stunned at
what they saw. Ghanshyam already had a new set of teeth in his
mouth. Both, Bhaktimata and Suvasinibhabhi, were astonished
and overjoyed at the miracle.
Then Ghanshyam picked up the teeth lying on the ground.
Suvasinibhabhi made him open his fist, and she saw there were
pearls instead of teeth! Ghanshyam raised his hand and a flock
of swans from Manasarovar swooped down from the sky. One
by one, they picked up the pearls from Ghanshyam’s hand and
flew away.
On seeing this divine episode Bhaktimata and Suvasinibhabhi
realized once more that Ghanshyam was indeed God incarnate
and humbly bowed to him.
Swans from Mansarovar pick the pearls from Ghanshyam’s hand
A Feast for His Friends
53
28. A FEAST FOR HIS FRIENDS
Once, in Chhapaiya, Ghanshyam took his friends out to play
on the banks of Meen lake. They were so engrossed in their
game, that they did now know it was already 4.00 pm. Veni,
Prag, Sukhanandan were all hungry. They thought of hurrying
home to eat. Ghanshyam was, of course, aware of what was
going on in their minds. So he asked them, “Are you all very
hungry?” All of them replied, “Yes!”
Then Ghanshyam proposed, “If you do as I ask, I shall feed
all of you here.” The friends readily agreed, “Oh yes, we are
ready. We are prepared to do whatever you ask. But you will
have to give us enough food.” Ghanshyam then said, “If you
agree to play with me till sunset, I shall certainly feed you all.”
The friends all replied, “Yes, yes. We’ll play.”
Ghanshyam then took out his handkerchief and tied it to a
branch of the mango tree nearby, and told his friends, “Come
on, let us go to Meen lake for a bath. This handkerchief of
mine will be filled with sweets in a short while.” All of them
then went to Meen lake for a bath. They played in the water
for a long time. Then Ghanshyam called them out, “Come on
everyone, out of the water. It will soon be dark. Then my elder
brother will scold me for being late.” So all of them came out
of the water, dried themselves and put on their clothes.
Then Veniram reminded Ghanshyam, “Ghanshyam, you told
us you would feed us sweets. So bring the sweets. We are very
hungry.” Ghanshyam replied, “Oh sure! Come on, let us climb
the mango tree. The sweets have been kept there.” So all of
them ran to the mango tree and, one by one, they climbed
up. Ghanshyam went to the branch to which he had tied his
handkerchief. Then he started serving delicious sweets from
the handkerchief to all his friends. His friends wondered how
the sweets got into the handkerchief. Ghanshyam read their
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Ghanashyam Charitra
The eight Siddhis serve Ghanshyam and his friends
thoughts, and he issued an order. Within seconds eight celestial
maidens descended from the sky with plates full of food in
their hands. They were the eight Siddhis, and all of them were
very beautiful. Each one had a gold plate in one hand in which
there were thirty-two items. In the other hand, they had a gold
water pot full of cool drinking water. Ghanshyam told all his
friends to get down and sit in a circle.
The eight Siddhis then started serving the delicious food,
while singing the praises of Ghanshyam. All the boys ate to
their heart’s content and drank the cool water. Then the Siddhis
bowed to Ghanshyam and disappeared into the sky. By then the
sun had set. All the children returned home with Ghanshyam,
happily dancing and singing.
Thousands Are Fed and Humbled
55
29. THOUSANDS ARE FED AND
HUMBLED
Once, a band of roaming sannyasis came to Chhapaiya, and
camped on the banks of Khampa pond. The group consisted of a
thousand bawas and sannyasis. Some of them had matted hair;
some had only a tuft of hair on their heads; yet others had long
beards, while some had shaven heads. Most of the sannyasis
carried tongs in their hands, while some had spears. There were
some who had swords, while others had long sticks or daggers.
When the band settled down near the pond, they beat their
drums, blew their conches, and and played their pipes, filling the
air with music. Within no time they set up their tents, and went
to bathe in the pond.
Ghanshyam, taking his friends Veni, Madhav, Prag and others
with him, went to have a look at the bawas. After taking their
bath, five leading bawas proceeded to Chhapaiya village to find
provisions for the whole group. Meanwhile, the village chief,
Motibhai Tarvadi, fearing that it would not be possible to collect
enough provisions for so many bawas, had run away to another
village.
The bawas came to the village and enquired, “Who is
Dharmadev?” The villagers directed them to Dharmadev’s house.
When they reached Dharmadev’s house, they made a loud clatter
with their tongs and spoke arrogantly, “We are a band of a
thousand bawas. We have camped on the bank of Khampa pond.
We want grains and vegetables for cooking our food.”
On hearing their demand Dharmadev replied politely, “Listen,
in my house I do not have enough grains, ghee and other provisions
to feed a thousand bawas. If you like, I can give you enough for
about a hundred. Also, almost all our food stocks in the house are
exhausted. So, please take what I can give you and collect the rest
from the village.”
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Ghanashyam Charitra
But the bawas were not ready to accept this. They struck
their tongs harder and more angrily and declared, “No, no, we
will not go to anybody else. You are the greatest gentleman in
this village. So you will have to give. Don’t tell lies. Give us
what we want now.”
Hearing this, Dharmadev was greatly worried. He did not
know what to do. When Ghanshyam came to know about his
father’s position, he immediately came home, and asked, “What
has happened, father? Why are you worried?” Dharmadev told
him about the bawas. Ghanshyam reassured his father at once,
“Don’t worry at all, father. Start taking out grains from our store.
They won’t get exhausted.”
So he asked Suvasinibhabhi to draw grains, flour, gur, ghee,
etc. out of the large storage vessels. The more she took the more
there was. She never reached the bottom. In a short time, there
was a huge heap of various provisions. The bawas were overjoyed,
and began to praise Dharmadev. As they got sufficient grains for
The bawas are given grains
Thousands Are Fed and Humbled
57
over a thousand people, they blessed Dharmadev and went away.
Dharmadev wondered, “From where did such a large quantity
of supplies arrive? Now, not a single grain would be left in the
house.” With this thought he looked into the vessels, and to his
joy and surprise he found that all of them were full as before. It
seemed as if nothing had been taken away. He knew at once that
this was yet another of Ghanshyam’s miracle.
In the evening Ghanshyam went with his father to see the
bawas’ camp on the banks of Khampa pond. Going around the
place, they came to a small tent. Inside, a bawa was sitting on a
tiger skin. He was ill-tempered and arrogant. He started debating
with Dharmadev. When he was clearly defeated in the discussion,
he started swearing.
Ghanshyam thought that the bawa should be taught a lesson.
He told his father, “Father, I want that tiger skin on which the
bawa is sitting.” Hearing this, the bawa shouted, “What are you
talking about kid?” Dharamadev tried to explain as softly as he
could, “My son, Ghanshyam, wants that tiger skin.” The bawa
blared out angrily, “What nonsense! It will cost you three hundred
rupees!” Hearing this Ghanshyam thought, “A true bawa who has
renounced everything should not be egoistic, never lose his temper
and should not keep money. So, he should be taught a lesson.”
Then he so willed that a real tiger spring up from the tiger skin.
The bawa ran for his life and the tiger ran after him to devour
him. The bawa shouted, “Oh God! I am finished. I am finished.
Run all of you! Run for your lives! There is a tiger here.” Hearing
his cries, the other bawas scattered in all directions, frightened
to death. They left their arm, water-pots, wooden sandals and
fled, leaving everything behind. There was panic and shouting all
through the camp.
Then Ghanshyam called the tiger to him, patted it on the back
and pacified it. Thereafter he called at the bawas and told them,
“Don’t be afraid. The tiger will not harm anyone. I materialized
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Ghanashyam Charitra
this tiger just to humble an arrogant bawa.” Hearing Ghanshyam’s
assurance, the bawas came back, still feeling frightened.
The bawa who had provoked the incident was still trembling
all over. All of them prostrated before Ghanshyam and asked for
forgiveness, “We have erred. You are God. We insulted you and your
father. Please forgive us.” Ghanshyam forgave them. He ordered the
tiger to go away, and it disappeared at once into the jungle.
Then Dharmadev and Ghanshyam returned to the village,
and the bawas folded up their tents, took their belongings, and
left for Ayodhya.
30. LAKSHMIBAI SEES A MIRACLE
In Chhapaiya, Ghanshyam would often go along with his
friends to one or the other of his neighbour’s houses to have a little
fun. The boys would enter the house secretly, take the earthen pot
from a basket suspended from the ceiling, and enjoy a feast of
milk, curd, makhan or whatever else was in the pot.
One day, Ghanshyam accompanied his friend, Veniram, to his
house. When they got to Veniram’s house, they saw Lakshmibai,
his mother, sitting outside in the courtyard, separating chaff from
the grain. Ghanshyam and Veniram played around for some time,
and then quietly entered the house. Then they slipped into the
kitchen. There they took makhan from a pot, mixed sugar in it,
and began to eat the mixture with relish. Suddenly, Lakshmibai
came into the kitchen and saw them eating the sweetened makhan.
Seeing Lakshmibai, Ghanshyam and Veniram jumped out of the
window and ran away.
Lakshmibai was furious. She at once went to Bhaktimata’s
house and complained to her, “Mother, your Ghanshyam comes
daily to my house to steal. He enters the house silently, goes into
the kitchen and eats ghee, milk, curd, makhan and other food.
Besides, he spoils my son by teaching him to steal. I saw it all with
Lakshmibai Sees a Miracle
59
my own eyes today. Why don’t you tell your son off?”
Bhaktimata quietly replied, “My Ghanshyam would never steal
anything. He is a very well behaved boy and always obedient to
me. On the other hand your Veni very often comes to my house,
and eats whatever he can lay his hands on when no one is looking.
At times he even takes things from my house, still we have never
complained. And you have come to complain about Ghanshyam.
I cannot believe what you say about him. If you see Ghanshyam
stealing next time, catch him, tie his hands and feet, and call me.
Only thereafter shall I believe you.”
“All right. But I am not lying. Now, if Ghanshyam comes to my
house again, I shall tie his hands and feet, and show you. I shall
prove to the whole village that Ghanshyam is a thief, and not the
good boy, as people think,” replied Lakshmibai. Then she went
away to her own house.
When Ghanshyam heard about this, he thought that Lakshmibai
should be taught a lesson.
One afternoon, Ghanshyam, along with Veniram, entered
the latter’s house by the back door. They saw that Lakshmibai
was having a nap. So, they went straight to the kitchen, took the
earthen-pot and ate all the curd in it. Unfortunately for the boys,
Lakshmibai woke up just at that moment, as she heard some
rattling noise in the kitchen. Thinking that it might be a cat she
hurried to the kitchen.
There she saw curd stuck to the lips of Ghanshyam and Veniram,
and the pot which they had emptied. She let her son, Veniram, escape,
but caught hold of Ghanshyam. “Today, I have caught you in the very
act of stealing. I shall make a full complaint. I shall let the whole
village know that the yogurt thief has been caught.” Lakshmibai then
tied Ghanshyam’s hands and feet tightly with a cord.
Flushed with victory, she shouted to everyone she met, “Come
and see, I have caught the thief.” She then went to Bhaktimata
and told her how she had at last caught Ghanshyam. “Today I
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Lakshmibai finds Veni tied up instead of Ghanshyam
have caught the thief and tied his hands and feet. Everyday he
comes and steals, and eats all the good things in the kitchen.
Come, I will show you how well behaved your son is.” She then
took Bhaktimata and all the neighbours to her house.
While Lakshmibai was away, Ghanshyam used his divine powers
to free himself from the ropes and bind Veniram’s hands and feet
instead. He then slipped out and reached home by a different route.
Soon Lakshmibai came to her house, bringing all the neighbours
along. Little did she suspect the transformation that had taken
place. She opened the door of the kitchen and declared without
looking, “Look at Ghanshyam, the thief.” But what Bhaktimata
and the others saw was Veniram who had been bound with ropes
and not Ghanshyam! All the neighbours began to laugh and said,
“What a fool this woman is! She has tied up her own son, Veniram,
and has brought us to see him.”
The Importance of Ekadashi
61
Hearing the laughter, Lakshmibai turned round, and saw
that Veniram, and not Ghanshyam, was bound with ropes. She
felt terribly embarrassed. Just then, eating gur from his hands,
Ghanshyam came to Lakshmibai’s house as if on a casual visit.
With a mischievous glint in his eyes, he enquired, “What has
happened, mother?”
Bhaktimata took him aside and laughed at the spectacle.
All the neighbours too went back chuckling to themselves over
Lakshmibai’s loss of face.
When she was alone, Lakshmibai began to wonder about the
episode. She thought, “There is no doubt that it was Ghanshyam
whom I had caught, and whose hands and feet I had bound.
Certainly Ghanshyam must be a miraculous child. Ghanshyam
must be God. Only then is this possible.” By now she had freed
Veniram. When Lakshmibai saw the truth, she went to Bhaktimata.
She begged for forgiveness for her ignorance and bowed to
Ghanshyam with the faith that he is God.
31. THE IMPORTANCE
OF EKADASHI
It was the day of Ekadashi. Ghanshyam got up very early, bathed,
performed puja and went for darshan to the Hanuman Gadhi mandir.
Mohandas, the mahant of the mandir, was narrating the story of
Ram from the Ramcharit Manas. In the course of the story, he read
the glory of observing Ekadashi, “If we observe one Ekadashi, we
obtain merits equal to the merits obtained by performing a thousand
Ashwamedh Yagnas.”
Hearing this, Ghanshyam asked, “Mahantji if that is so then why
is it that so many people do not observe Ekadashi?”
Mohandas gave a long explanation, “God has given us this rare
human body. Why then should we inflict suffering on this precious
body by fasting on Ekadashi? This body has not been given for
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suffering pain and misery. Since the observance of Ekadashi was
given up in Jagannathpuri people have stopped doing it. People
believe that to remain hungry is to inflict suffering on one’s atma.
So, we should eat and drink to nourish our body. Today only those
who do not have anything to eat or drink observe Ekadashi. So little
boy, bear this in mind. Don’t make your body suffer by fasting.”
Ghanshyam thought, “The bawa is misleading the people by
spreading false beliefs. So he should be taught the truth.”
So Ghanshyam said to him, “Bawaji, do not preach such wrong
talks. It is a sin to talk against the scriptures. There is much glory
in the observance of Ekadashi. So, one should observe Ekadashi
wholeheartedly.”
The bawa was annoyed at Ghanshyam, “You, little one, you
have the audacity to teach me my duty? Are you not ashamed of
yourself?”
Ghanshyam simply fixed his eyes on the bawa, who
immediately went into samadhi. He found himself transported to
Yampuri. There he was severely beaten by the servants of Yam.
They scolded him, “You have never observed Ekadashi, and have
fattened yourself by eating and drinking merrily. Also, you have
misguided other people. So today we will not let you go.” Thus,
they thrashed him even more soundly.
In the mandir, the body of the bawa began to toss about, and
he screamed, “Save me please, save me. Yam’s servants are beating
me. They are punishing me because I do not observe Ekadashi.”
The heavy beating made the bawa ache all over. After a while he
emerged from samadhi. Immediately, he prostrated himself at the
feet of Ghanshyam.
The bawa then addressed the assembly, “Listen everyone this
Ghanshyam is not just a little boy. He is God supreme! I ignored him.
I did not explain the truth, so I had to suffer a beating in Yampuri. My
bones and ribs are still aching. I was punished in Yampuri because I
have not observed Ekadashi all these years. I, therefore, pledge today
Ghanshyam Is Given the Sacred Thread
63
before Ghanshyam that I shall from now, regularly observe Ekadashi
in the proper way. Also, I shall preach to the people to do the same.
And you all should begin observing Ekadashi from today.”
Having said this, the bawa prostrated at the feet of Ghanshyam,
seated him on his own seat, worshipped him, and begged to be
forgiven. All those present also bowed to Ghanshyam, and went home
with the resolution that they would fast on Ekadashi. Ghanshyam
then blessed the bawa and returned home.
32. GHANSHYAM IS GIVEN THE
SACRED THREAD
Ghanshyam was now nearly seven years old. Bhaktimata
thought it was time to give him the sacred thread. So, she sent for a
Brahmin named Harikrishna Upadhyay. He was the main priest of
the whole village. He was a very pure and simple Brahmin. When
he received the call, he at once took his book, put on his turban,
covered himself with a khes and came to Dharmadev’s house.
Dharmadev received him with due respect, and gave him an
appropriate seat. He then said to the Brahmin, “We want to give
the sacred thread to our son, Ghanshyam. Please fix an auspicious
day for the ceremony.” Harikrishna Upadhyay put on his spectacles,
arranged his khes comfortably, and then, opened his book and
began to count on his fingers. After making his calculations, he
declared Monday, 17 March 1788 CE (Fagan sud 10, Samvat 1844)
to be an auspicious day for the thread giving ceremony.
Accordingly, Dharmadev began his preparations for the sacred
thread ceremony. He sent out invitations to all relatives, sadhus and
Brahmins. He had the whole of Barhatta Street of Ayodhya beautifully
decorated, the house painted anew, and pictures of birds and deer
and other animals drawn on the walls. A large shamiana was set up
beneath a neem tree outside the house. Beautiful rangoli patterns
using coloured powder were drawn on the floor. A colourful tree of
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glass was made and placed in the middle of the ground, with a divo
at its centre. Small mirrors were hung around the tree reflecting a
myriad of lights. Decorative glass pieces and chandeliers of different
shapes and sizes were fixed all around. Velvet cloths of different
colours and arches of asopalav leaves added to the splendour of the
shamiana. Everyone was wonderstruck by the glittering splendour.
From early morning on 17 March (tenth day of the bright half
of Fagan), Dharmadev’s house resounded with the melodious
tunes of shahanai and women singing bhajans. Harikrishna
Upadhyay, the priest, along with other Brahmins, began to chant
the sacred Vedic mantras while offering ghee, grains, sesame, etc.
into the yagna. The main priest recited mantras as Ghanshyam
took a pledge before the fire-god. Then Rambali, the barber, was
called, and Ghanshyam had his head shaved. He then had a bath
and put on a yellow silk pitamber.
Ghanshyam then entered the yagna arena, bowed to his
parents and offered oblations. Brahma, Vishnu, Mahesh and other
gods descended from the sky for darshan. Flowers were showered
Vashrambhai chases Ghanshyam during the ceremonial run
Ghanshyam Is Given the Sacred Thread
65
from the sky. Ghanshyam then received the guru-mantra, put on
the clothes of a celibate, tied a waistband, and held a blade of
moonj grass in his hand. He also held a stick of a palash tree and
a begging bowl in his hands. He then asked for alms from his
mother, and gave what he received to the priest. By this time it
was noon. Then the main ceremony for donning the sacred thread
took place. In the afternoon, he put on the clothes of a young boy
(batuk), and went to the village square for a ceremonial run.
His maternal uncle, Vashrambhai, stood in front. Behind them
stood Dharmadev and other relatives. And last of all, the women,
who were singing bhajans. All stood in the square facing north. All
of them thought that when Ghanshyam ran, his maternal uncle
would quickly catch him and bring him back. But Ghanshyam had
other thoughts, “I want to liberate innumerable souls in this world.
I shall, therefore, run directly to the Himalayas. My maternal uncle
will never be able to catch me. Then, from the Himalayas, I shall
travel everywhere to liberate people.”
With these thoughts in his mind, Ghanshyam started to run,
followed by his maternal uncle. His uncle ran very fast, but he could
not catch Ghanshyam and felt exhausted. He praised Ghanshyam’s
prowess as a runner, and prayed to him, “Oh Ghanshyam! Please
allow me to catch you and maintain my honour. Your parents will
be pained if you go away.”
Hearing his uncle’s prayer, Ghanshyam thought, “My parents
are pure and innocent. I should not leave them.” So he returned.
Vashrambhai was overjoyed to see him come back. He lifted him on
his shoulders and brought him back to the yagna arena, to everyone’s
relief. He gave five rupees to Ghanshyam, which Ghanshyam
handed over to his father. Ghanshyam then bowed to all. Finally,
sitting by the side of his mother, he ate his meal consisting of ghee,
gur and rice. It was the last ritual of the day.
Dharmadev fed the Brahmins and sadhus, gifted them clothes
and money, and bade them a warm farewell.
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Ghanashyam Charitra
33. GHANSHYAM IS SEEN AS
RAMCHANDRA
One afternoon, Ghanshyam took his friends to Meen Lake
in Chhapaiya to bathe. All the boys jumped into the water at
once for a swim. Ghanshyam proposed, “Let us play catch in
the water.” So the game began and the boys began to chase and
catch each other. But, try as they might, no one could catch
Ghanshyam. He swam very fast, dived deep into the water,
and reappeared far away. After playing in this way for some
time, Ghanshyam dived to the bottom and sat on the bed of the
lake. He did not come up for some time. His friends began to
worry. They wondered, “Where could Ghanshyam be? Has he
drowned or has he been swallowed by a crocodile?”
At that time a washerman named Manchha was washing
clothes on the bank of the lake. Ghanshyam’s friends ran to him
for help, “We cannot find our friend Ghanshyam. He has not come
Ghanshyam walks on the water
Sailing on Stone Slabs
67
out of the water. Either he has drowned, or a crocodile may have
eaten him. We ask you to dive into the water and find him out.”
The washerman plunged into the water, dived deep and carried
out a wide search on all sides. But he could find no trance of
Ghanshyam. At last, completely exhausted, the washerman came
up to the surface, and told the boys, “Go to the village to bring
Ghanshyam’s father here and tell him everything.”
One of the boys ran to Dharmadev’s house, and told him
the story. Dharmadev was greatly upset at the news. He took
Bhaktimata, Rampratap, Vashrambhai and other villagers with
him to Meen Lake without delay. They stood on the bank worried
about what to do. Deep down in the water, Ghanshyam thought,
“My parents are worrying, so I should come out of the water.” With
this thought, he came up to the surface. His father, mother and all
the rest felt relieved and happy at the sight of Ghanshyam.
Thereafter, Ghanshyam started walking on the water towards
the bank. The people looking out from the bank had a vision, not
of Ghanshyam, but of Lord Ramchandra. They were astonished.
Ghanshyam arrived on the bank, bowed to his father and mother
and said, “Why were you so worried? I was only sitting at the
bottom of the lake to do my work.”
Bhaktimata hugged Ghanshyam, and all of them walked back
happily to the village.
34. SAILING ON STONE SLABS
Soon it was the month of Chaitra. Dharmadev accompanied by
Rampratap, Ichchharam, Suvasinibhabhi, Bhaktimata, Ghanshyam
and other villagers, left for Ayodhya. On the way was the river
Saryu. The river was very wide as well as very deep. To reach
Ayodhya people had to go by boat across the river. But only one
boat was available. And it could take only a few passengers at a
time, so the river bank was crowded with people waiting to cross.
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Ghanashyam Charitra
Ghanshyam told the boatman, “We want a separate boat. Can
you provide one?” The boatman replied, “You will have to pay
more if you want to reserve the whole boat. Are you willing?”
Ghanshyam replied, “We will not give you more. We will only pay
the normal fare.” But the boatman refused. So, Ghanshyam turned
to Dharmadev and others and said, “All of you follow me.”
Ghanshyam took them to a place a short distance away, where
there were some large stone slabs. He asked his mother, father,
Suvasinibhabhi, Ichchharam and other villagers from Chhapaiya
to sit on one of the bigger slabs, while he and Rampratapbhai sat
on a smaller one. Then as he touched both the slabs with his right
hand, they began to move over the water just like a real boat. People
standing on the bank and the boatman were all bewildered at the
strange sight of the stone slabs sailing on the water like proper boats.
All were convinced that the little boy could be none other than Lord
Ramchandra himself. They bowed to Ghanshyam from the river
bank. The two stone slabs soon reached the opposite side. There they
got down and, led by Dharmadev, proceeded towards Ayodhya.
Sailing on the stone slabs
Miracle Shown to Aunts
69
35. MIRACLE SHOWN TO AUNTS
Once, Bhaktimata’s sisters, Vasantabai and Chandanbai
came to stay with her in Chhapaiya. Vasantabai brought her
son, Manekdhar, along with her, and Chandanbai brought her
son, Basti, too. As soon as they arrived they asked, “Where is
Ghanshyam?” They were very anxious to see him. Bhaktimata
replied, “He has gone to Firojpur. But he will be back soon.”
That same evening, Ghanshyam and Ichchharam returned
home, along with Dharmadev. The two aunts gave Ghanshyam
and Ichchharam patasa, which they had specially brought for
them. Then after having supper everyone retired to sleep.
Early next morning, Chandanmasi and Vasantamasi began
to grind grains into flour on the stone grinder. Chandanmasi
thought that since it was early morning, it would be proper to
sing morning bhajans. So, while grinding, she began to sing
one of Tulsidas’s morning bhajans, “Utho Lal prabhat bhaya hai
(Get up my Dear it is already morning).” Ghanshyam, who was
sleeping in a nearby bed, spoke up, “Aunty, I am fully awake.
Why do you ask me to get up? What do you want?” On hearing
this, the aunts said, “We are not asking you to get up. We are
waking up the Lord.”
Thereupon, Ghanshyam, while still lying in his bed, stretched
out his hand, and pressed it against the handle of the grinder.
The grinder came to a sudden halt. The aunts tried hard to turn
it, but it would not move. The aunts were perplexed. Ghanshyam
then suggested to them, “Aunty, say that you are waking me up.
The God whom you are asking to wake up from his sleep is the
same as the one who has placed his hand on this grinder.” But the
words seemed so silly that the aunts did not pay any heed to what
he said. Instead, they tried harder to remove Ghanshyam’s hand
from the handle of the grinder, but to no avail. The hand would
not move even an inch.
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Ghanashyam Charitra
Meanwhile, Bhaktimata entered the room with a lighted lamp
in her hand. Both the aunts began to complain, “Sister, please
ask Ghanshyam to take his hand off the grinder. We are not able
to remove his hand.” Bhaktimata turned to her son and said,
“Ghanshyam, take off your hand.” When Ghanshyam heard his
mother’s order, he said, “Mother, please ask the aunts whom
they were trying to wake up?” When they heard Ghanshyam’s
complaint, the aunts relented, and to pacify Ghanshyam they
said, “All right, all right, it is you we are waking up. Now allow
us to carry on with the grinding.”
Ghanshyam explained, “Had you said the truth in the very
beginning, the grinder would not have stopped, and the work
would not have been delayed.” The aunts replied, “You are God.
We realized just now when you showed us your divine power. We
ask your forgiveness.” So saying, they bowed to Ghanshyam.
Ghanshyam stops the grinding machine
Ghanshyam Eats All the Food
71
36. GHANSHYAM EATS ALL
THE FOOD
After arriving in Ayodhya, the festival of Ram Navmi was not
too far off. Dharmadev decided to celebrate the festival in his
own house with great joy. He sent out invitations to his friends
and relatives. Many friends and relatives from the surrounding
villages gladly responded to his call, and came a day earlier. The
next day they celebrated Ram Navmi with discourses, prayers and
singing of bhajans.
On the day after the festival, Bhaktimata and Suvasinibhabhi
got up early in the morning and cooked food for the whole family
as they were all breaking their fast that day. Ghanshyam, too,
woke up early with his mother and finished all his morning
rituals. When the food was ready, Bhaktimata placed a
large plate full of all the delicacies before Thakorji to sanctify the
food.
On seeing this, Ghanshyam told his mother, “I am very
hungry.” So, his mother took a little of each delicacy and
prepared a dish for Ghanshyam. Within minutes, Ghanshyam
emptied his plate. Then he began eating from the plate offered
to Thakorji, and soon finished everything. He then ate all
the food in the other vessels, drank some water and left the
kitchen.
When Bhaktimata returned to the kitchen, she found
to her horror that all the food had disappeared, and all
the plates were empty. Rushing out of the kitchen, she
begged Dharmadev, “Please hurry to the market again and
bring pulses, rice, flour, vegetables, ghee, and gur, because
Ghanshyam has eaten up all the food prepared for everyone.
I shall have to cook everything again. So please bring all the
necessary provisions quickly. Otherwise, what will we feed
the guests?”
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Ghanashyam Charitra
When Ghanshyam heard this, he said, “Mother, all the food is
there just as it was. I have not taken anything. Come, I will show
you.” But, Bhaktimata insisted, “Suvasinibhabhi and I have just
been inside and have seen everything. You have emptied all the
vessels.”
Ghanshyam was no less insistent, “No, no. Just come with me
and have a look.” So saying, he pulled Bhaktimata by the hand
and led her to the kitchen.
A surprised Bhaktimata saw, as Ghanshyam had assured
her, that all the utensils were as full as ever. Seeing such
a miracle, all she could do was to embrace her son with
great affection. Dharmadev was also very happy. When the
guests came, he fed them generously and then bade them
farewell.
Ghanshyam shows Bhaktimata the utensils full of food
In Search of Gauri, the Cow
73
37. IN SEARCH OF GAURI,
THE COW
Dharmadev kept a number of cows. One of them was named
Gomti, and she was very dear to Ghanshyam. Gomti had two
calves, Gauri and Kapila.
Every morning, the cowherd took Dharmadev’s cows for
grazing. He grazed them all day long, and brought them home
in the evening. One day, however, on coming home, he found
that all the cows had returned except Gauri. Deeply worried,
the cowherd rushed back to the grazing field, and searched
everywhere, but could find no trace of Gauri. He then came
back, very downcast, and informed Dharmadev about it.
The sun had already set. But Dharmadev, along with
Rampratapbhai and Ghanshyam, went out in search of Gauri.
They searched all the surrounding fields, but could not find
Gauri. They even went into the jungle, which was a short
distance from the field, in the hope of finding her there.
By now, night had descended, but soft light from a full moon
brightened the scene around. The three of them searched
deep into the jungle, but none could find any trace of Gauri.
In a last desperate attempt, Ghanshyam and Rampratapbhai
called Gauri’s name aloud several times. To their delight
Gauri appeared from out of the thick bush and came running
and mooing to its masters. Ghanshyam affectionately patted
her on the head.
Taking Gauri with them, they began their weary journey
back home through the jungle. After they had walked for some
time, Dharmadev suddenly stopped. “Why have you stopped,
father?” inquired Ghanshyam. Dharmadev pointed to a spot
ahead of them. Ghanshyam saw that there was a tiger resting
under a tree. The tiger’s eyes shone, and he was yawning.
The tiger soon smelt human flesh, and so he roared as he got
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Ghanashyam Charitra
up. Dharmadev, Rampratapbhai and Gauri shook with fear
at the sight. Dharmadev thought that all four of them would
be killed by the tiger. But in the meantime Ghanshyam ran up
to the tiger, stood in front of him and looked steadily into his
eyes. At once the tiger calmed down, bent his head as if paying
homage, walked respectfully round Ghanshyam, and lay down
to sleep quietly.
Ghanshyam then turned to his father and said, “Do not be
afraid, father. Take Gauri and follow me. The tiger will not
harm anyone. He is sleeping soundly.”
Accordingly, Dharmadev and Rampratap, along with Gauri,
followed close behind Ghanshyam, and passed nervously by
the sleeping tiger. In a short while, they all emerged from
the jungle, and reached a neighbouring village. After staying
there for the night with a relative called Oza, they all returned
home with Gori the next day. Seeing Gauri safely back and
hearing the story about Ghanshyam’s encounter with the tiger,
Bhaktimata was overjoyed.
Ghanshyam calms the tiger
Walking on Water
75
38. WALKING ON WATER
One afternoon in Chhapaiya, Ghanshyam, accompanied by his
younger brother, Ichchharam, and some friends, went to a place
on the outskirts of the village. There they all had a bath in the
Meen Lake and began to play amli-pipli under a banyan tree. The
game went on till evening when, suddenly, it began to rain. At
first they thought that the rain would stop after a short time, and
that they would return home soon.
However, it rained heavily and continuously. Darkness spread
all around. Thunder and lightning rent the sky. Ichchharam
and the other smaller kids of his age began to cry. The lake was
swelling rapidly. Within a short time, the whole of the surrounding
area was inundated with water. The older boys, Veni, Madhav
and Prag, were also worried about how they would reach home.
Frightened, Ichchharam asked Ghanshyam, “What will happen
now? How can we go home in this flood water? I will drown if I
try to walk through the water?”
Ghanshyam told Ichchharam and the others not to worry,
Ghanshyam and his friends walk on water during the heavy rain
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Ghanashyam Charitra
“Don’t be afraid. Come on let us get down from the tree. I will
walk in front. Ichchharam, you walk behind me holding on to my
dhoti. The others follow similarly, one behind the other, holding
on to one another’s dhotis from behind. We shall walk on the
water, and even the rain will not fall on us.”
So saying, Ghanshyam got down from the tree. He kept
Ichchharam behind him. Then followed Veni, Madhav and Prag
and the others. Thus, holding on to one another’s dhotis, they all
walked behind Ghanshyam. When they came to the water’s edge
they were lifted above the ground by some unseen power. And so
they walked across the water without even getting their feet wet.
Rain fell on all sides, but it did not touch them.
And so they crossed the river and reached the outskirts of the
village. Dharmadev, Bhaktimata and the parents of the other boys
were all out searching for them. Suddenly, they were astonished
to see the boys walking on the water. There was a brilliant light
emanating from Ghanshyam’s body. They all bowed to Ghanshyam,
believing him to be God himself. They were pleased by the safe
return of their sons. They bowed to Ghanshyam and returned
home happily with their sons.
39. THIEVES IN A FIX
There was a farm at a short distance from Ghanshyam’s house.
It belonged to Dharmadev, and was looked after by Rampratapbhai.
Once, Ghanshyam and Rampratapbhai decided to take care of
the jackfruits growing on a jack tree. They thought that when the
jackfruits ripen, they would pick them from the tree, and bring them
home for Dharmadev and Bhaktimata to eat.
One night, two thieves came, made a hole in the farm wall, and
entered. Silently and stealthily they walked up to the jackfruit tree
and climbed it. They thought, “The fruits are all ripe. Let us pick
them. We shall carry them away in bags, and earn a lot of money by
Thieves in a Fix
77
selling them in the market.” But, no sooner did they touch the first
jackfruit in order to pluck it, both their hands got stuck to the fruit.
They tried very hard, but could not free their hands. While they were
still struggling, the day dawned, and soon it was morning.
Dharmadev, carrying a water pot in hand, came to the farm to
The two thieves beg for pardon
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Ghanashyam Charitra
brush his teeth. The two thieves saw him, and quickly repented for
their wrongdoing. They prayed, and decided in their minds, “Never
again shall we steal. Never again shall we take away anything
without asking the owner’s permission. O God! Please set us free.
If Rampratapbhai comes, he will break our bones. Please, O Lord,
we pray to you again. Set us free. Save us.” Soon they saw, in the
distance, Rampratapbhai and Ghanshyam coming towards them.
They were panic-stricken.
When Rampratapbhai saw the thieves on the tree, he ran to beat
them with his stick, but Ghanshyam stopped him. He went near the
jackfruit tree along with his father. With tears in their eyes, the thieves
begged for forgiveness, “O Dharmadev! We have committed a crime.
We came to your farm to steal the jackfruits, but our hands got stuck
to the fruits. So we cannot get down from the tree. Please set us free,
and forgive our mistake. We shall never again steal anything.”
Listening to their tearful plea, Ghanshyam just gave a divine
look. At once, their hands were freed. Both the thieves, then
climbed, bowed to Dharmadev, Rampratap and Ghanshyam,
and once again pleaded to be forgiven. Ghanshyam told them.
“Do not steal any more. Stealing is a grave sin.” So saying, he
picked two ripe jackfruits and gave one to each of them. He then
blessed them before they left.
40. DARSHAN IN TWO FORMS
It was the Diwali festival period. Dharmadev and Bhaktimata
began preparations for the Annakut festival from the day of
Dhanteras. Sweets like ladoo, jalebi, mesur, mohanthal, sata, barfi,
penda, etc. were prepared. A variety of savoury and fried items
like sev, chevdo, fafda, mathia, cholafali, etc. were also prepared.
On Diwali day, Bhaktimata and Suvasinibhabhi, along with other
women from the village, who had come to Dharmadev’s house,
began cooking from early in the morning.
Darshan in Two Forms
79
Bhaktimata prepared dudhpak, shrikhand, basundi, shiro,
biranj and other such delicacies, while Suvasinibhabhi made
savouries like dhokla, patra, bhajia, kachori. Some of the other
ladies prepared a variety of vegetable dishes, while others cooked
a variety of pulses. Some made puris, chapattis, pakodi, khaja, etc.,
while some others boiled rice, dal, kadhi, khichdi, etc. Rampratap,
the eldest brother, went to get fruits like, chikoo, pomegranates,
Ghanshyam gives darshan in two forms
80
Ghanashyam Charitra
jackfruits, grapes, sugarcane, bananas, oranges, and cashew nuts
from the family farm.
In Thakorji’s room, Ghanshyam helped his father with
the decorations. They dressed Thakorji in beautiful clothes.
Garlands of leaves were hung up everywhere. Divas were lighted.
By this time, it was eleven o’clock. Then, plates filled with a
variety of foods were arranged before Thakorji. By twelve, all
the sweets, savoury foodstuffs, pulses, vegetables and fruits
had been arranged. Betel leaves were also placed before the
deity. Then, everyone sat down before Thakorji to sing thals.
Afterwards Dharmadev lit the arti, and started waving it before
Thakorji, accompanied by the ringing of bells and beating of
drums. All the villagers gathered at Dharmadev’s house at the
time of arti for darshan of the annakut.
Then a miracle happened! The people sometimes looked in
the direction of Dharmadev and sometimes in the direction of
Thakorji. They saw two forms of Ghanshyam, one by the side
of Thakorji, and the other by the side of Dharmadev, who was
waving the arti. They saw these twin forms of Ghanshyam till
the ritual of arti was over. They were astonished. Everyone
was convinced that Thakorji and Ghanshyam were one and the
same. They all prostrated before both.
Seeing the miracle, Dharmadev understood that Ghanshyam
was God Supreme. He immediately sent for a big plate. On it
he put all the varieties of food that had been prepared and
served it to Ghanshyam. Ghanshyam called his younger brother,
Ichchharam, and both the brothers started eating in front of
Thakorji. People remained to have darshan of the annakut
till two o’clock in the afternoon. Then Ghanshyam personally
served the consecrated food from the annakut to each of the
villagers.
People returned home, full of joy at having received prasad
from the hands of God himself!
The Priest’s Sight Is Restored
81
41. THE PRIEST’S SIGHT IS
RESTORED
Behind Dharmadev’s house in Ayodhya was a Mahadev mandir.
Ghanshyam went there to have Mahadev’s darshan. When he was
engaged in darshan, he heard a man by the name Devibaksh,
praying to Lord Shankar, and asking for something which he
shouldn’t ask. Hearing this, Ghanshyam was upset. He felt like
leaving home to practise austerities. He thought, “There must be
many such ignorant people in this world. I want to teach them the
spiritual truths and liberate them.” With this thought he returned
home, in a gloomy frame of mind.
When Dharmadev saw that his son was depressed, he asked him.
“Ghanshyam! Why do you look so depressed today?” Ghanshyam
laughed the question away saying, “No, I am not at all depressed.”
Ghanshyam restores the sight of the blind priest, Vrajvihari
82
Ghanashyam Charitra
The next day, Ghanshyam went for darshan at the Vidyakund
Mandir. A blind Brahmin named Vrajvihari was the pujari of that
mandir. He had learnt the whole of the Ramayan and Mahabharat
by heart. So, sitting there in the mandir, he was narrating the stories
from the Ramayan. Many devotees were listening to the story with
rapt attention. During the narration, Ghanshyam heard the priest
saying, “Ramchandra left home to stay in exile in a forest for a
period of fourteen years.” Immediately Ghanshyam again thought
of leaving home and going to a forest to do austerities. He requested
Vrajvihari, the blind Brahmin, to stop the story for a moment, because
he wanted to ask a question about vairagya. The Brahmin replied,
“Asking questions during the discourse causes disturbance. So don’t
ask questions during the discourse. Come to my house, and I shall
answer all of your questions.” Ghanshyam was disappointed with
the reply. He quietly went and sat on the verandah outside.
bGhanshyam felt pity for Vrajvihari. He placed his hand on the
Brahmin’s head and gazed into his eyes. To his joy, Vrajvihari began
to see; his sight was restored. The Brahmin and all the devotees
present there, had the vision of Lord Ramchandra in Ghanshyam.
Vrajvihari fell at Ghanshyam’s feet, and after receiving his blessings
once more, he went home with joy and gratitude in his heart.
42. GHANSHYAM’S DAILY ROUTINE
Ghanshyam awoke daily at four o’clock in the morning.
After getting up, he would meditate on God for a few minutes.
Thereafter, he would go with his friends to the river Saryu. There,
he would clean his teeth. Then after a bath, he would put on clean
clothes and perform puja and meditation.
After that, he would have his glass of milk and then sit down
to his studies with Dharmadev. The latter would teach him logic,
grammar, dharma shastras, Vedas, Upanishads, Gita, Sankhya,
Yoga, Vedant, etc. Ghanshyam would listen to his father’s teachings
Ghanshyam’s Daily Routine
83
attentively. When Dharmadev completed his part of the teaching,
Ghanshyam would study by himself.
At nine, he would visit all the mandirs in Ayodhya and have
darshan of the deities. Wherever the Ramayan was being narrated
he would sit and listen to it with rapt attention. At twelve he
would return home, wash his hands and feet, and have his lunch
with Dharmadev. Thereafter, he would resume his study.
At three in the afternoon, he would again go for a bath in the
river. Then, accompanied by his friends, he would without fail, go to
the mandir at Hanuman Gadhi for darshan during the evening arti.
He would come back home only after the evening arti was over.
Returning home, he would again wash his hands and feet and
then have dinner with Dharmadev. Thereafter, he would go and
sit by the side of his father who would tell him stories from the
Ramayan, Mahabharat, Purans and other shastras. He would
listen with great attention and interest. Then, he would go to bed.
Such was his daily routine.
Dharmadev teaches the shastras to Ghanshyam
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Ghanashyam Charitra
43. PROPAGATING THE
VISHISHTADVAIT TEACHINGS
IN KASHI
Ghanshyam had entered into his eleventh year. At about this
time a lunar eclipse was to occur. Dharmadev decided to go to
Kashi with some relatives and bathe in the holy Ganga after
the eclipse.
Dharmadev was a renowned scholar. When the scholars in
Kashi found out that Dharmadev had arrived in Kashi, and was
on the banks of the Ganga by the Gomath, they went to meet him.
Ghanshyam was with Dharmadev. When they saw Ghanshyam
they wondered if Bruhaspati himself had come in the form of a
son to Dharmadev!
The scholars of Kashi had organized a debate on the shastras
at the Gomath. Dharmadev was to be the chairman, and the
debate would be attended by scholars of all the different
schools of philosophy.
The Advait scholars started the discussion saying, “Everything
is Brahman. Brahman is the only reality. All else is illusion.”
The Dvait scholars replied, “No, Brahman, jiva, and this
world are all true.”
The debate continued for a long time. The scholars
knew there would be no end to it. So they decided to ask
Ghanshyam. They wondered which philosophy a miraculous
child like him supported. His word would be regarded as
final.
Thus, at everyone’s request and with Dharmadev’s permission,
Ghanshyam entered the discussion. He beautifully and very
clearly explained the deep and difficult meanings of verses from
the Vedas. With the backing of the shastras he solidly propagated
the Vishishtadvait philosophy. Everyone was spellbound by his
knowledge and oratory.
Propagating the Vishishtadvait Teachings in Kashi
85
As Ghanshyam continued to speak, rays of divine light
emanated from his body, and so everyone seated there
experienced samadhi. Each scholar saw his chosen deity
in Ghanshyam’s form. Some saw Shankaracharya, others
saw Sadashiv or Ramchandraji, and still others saw Shri
Krishna.
In this state of samadhi everyone performed Ghanshyam’s
pujan with sandalwood paste and kumkum. Dharmadev was
greatly surprised on seeing all this. Finally, when Ghanshyam
awoke everyone from samadhi they all prostrated before him
and prayed for divine blessings.
Respect for Dharmadev rose greatly in Kashi. Everybody
congratulated him on having such a miraculous son and
hailed the glory of Ghanshyam. Dharmdev was also full of
joy.
Ghanshyam establishes the Vishishtadvait teachings during the debate in Kashi
86
Ghanashyam Charitra
44. BHAKTIMATA AND
DHARMADEV PASS AWAY
Ghanshyam was now eleven years of age. Bhaktimata and
Dharmadev were quite old. One day, Bhaktimata went down
with fever. Day by day her health became worse. Because of
the fever and weakness, she became bedridden. One evening
she called all her three sons and said to them, “My illness is
getting worse everyday and my whole body is aching. I shall
not live for very long. Rampratap and Suvasini, please take care
of Ghanshyam and Ichchharam. Ghanshyam and Ichchharam,
always obey your elder brother and bhabhi, and all of you live
together in peace and unity.”
Dharmadev and Rampratapbhai wrote to all their relatives,
asking them to come to Chhapaiya, since Bhaktimata’s end
was drawing near. Once, Ghanshyam discoursed talked to his
mother and also appeared to her in the divine form of Narayan
with four arms. Bhaktimata closed her eyes and meditated on
Ghanshyam. After a while she quietly passed away and entered
Akshardham.
The three brothers and their father, along with their relatives
and villagers, performed the funeral rites and resolved that
they would be as religious and devout as she was.
Six months later, Dharmadev also fell ill. Because of old age
he felt very weak and tired. He was so feeble that he could not
even get up from his bed. He distributed alms to the poor and
gifts to the Brahmins. He asked his sons to read him stories
from the Bhagvat.
One day, when the reading was over, he called all his
three sons near. He said to Rampratap, “Listen Rampratap.
Ghanshyam is God incarnate. He is not attached in any way
to this mundane existence. So, please always treat him with
love and respect. Do not speak to him harshly. Take good care
Ghanshyam Leaves Home
87
of Ichchharam also. And you, Ghanshyam and Ichchharam,
remember Rampratapbhai is your elder brother, and obey him.
Please always follow these words of mine.”
After Dharmadev had spoken, a brilliant light emanated
from the body of Ghanshyam. In that light, Dharmadev saw the
twenty-four avatars of God – Ram, Krishna, Brahma, Vishnu,
Mahesh and others. Dharmadev’s mind became engaged in
Ghanshyam. Lying in his bed, Dharmadev prayed to Ghanshyam
and a few minutes later he breathed his last.
All were grief-stricken. They bathed Dharmadev’s body
with the holy water of the Ganga, and performed the funeral
rites. Alms were given to the poor and to the Brahmins. All
prayed to God that they become as pure and virtuous as
Dharmadev was.
45. GHANSHYAM LEAVES HOME
After the passing away of Bhaktimata and Dharmadev,
Ghanshyam thought of leaving home, and practising austerities
in a forest. He was waiting for a suitable opportunity to
leave home.
Meanwhile, one morning, he became very disinterested in
the mundane nature of the world. After finishing his morning
bath, he went round to all the mandirs in Ayodhya and had
darshan. When he was returning home, he passed a garden in
which some wrestlers were practising their skills. On seeing
Ghanshyam, the wrestlers surrounded him from all sides, and
prevented him from proceeding further.
Ghanshyam, by using his divine power, made his body as big
and as strong as the wrestlers, and entered into a combat with
them. There were twenty-seven of them. However, he lifted
them, one by one, spun them round and round and finally
threw them on the ground. All their bones ached. No one could
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get up. Realizing their pitiable condition, all the twenty-seven
wrestlers began to cry like small children.
The parents and relatives of the wrestlers went to
Ghanshyam’s elder brother to complain. They said to
Rampratapbhai, “Your Ghanshyam has beaten our sons for no
fault of theirs.” When Rampratapbhai heard this, he thought,
“Ghanshyam should be told off. If people started complaining
about him daily, our reputation in the town will suffer. It is
not proper that Ghanshyam misbehaves now that mother and
father have passed away.” Thinking so Rampratapbhai rebuked
Ghanshyam severely. Ghanshyam heard his brother patiently
and, in the end, said, “Respected brother. Rest assure, there
will be no complaint against me from today.”
It was then that Ghanshyam finalized his decision to
leave home. After their evening meal, both Rampratap and
Suvasinibhabhi went to sleep, with no inkling of what was to
happen the next day.
Early next morning, Ghanshyam got up at half-past-three.
Quietly, while everyone else was fast asleep he gathered a few
things and walked out of the house. Whoever saw him thought
he was going for his bath since he was walking towards the
river Saryu.
At the time, Ghanshyam had a waistband of moonj grass.
On his body there was only one piece of cloth and he wore
a loin-cloth. On his back he had a mrigacharma, the skin of
a deer. He held a mala in one hand and a stick of the palash
tree in the other. At one end of the stick he had tied a small
bundle of papers containing the essence of the shastras. He
also carried a water-pot, alms bowl and a filter-cloth with him.
A double string of tulsi beads hung round his neck and the
sacred thread round his shoulders. He also took with him a
Shaligram representing Vishnu, and a batwo of Balmukund,
representing Shri Krishna. There was a tilak on his forehead
Ghanshyam Leaves Home
89
and his hair was matted. He was walking barefoot. Clad in the
manner of an ascetic, Ghanshyam left to perform austerities in
the Himalayas, a long way beyond the river Saryu.
Ghanshyam leaves home
The evil Kaushik pushes Ghanshyam into the flooded river Saryu
90
Ghanashyam Charitra
Oceans of Tears
91
46. ON THE BANKS OF
RIVER SARYU
Thus clad as a Varni, Ghanshyam, after leaving home, walked
in the direction of river Saryu. He looked back frequently over his
shoulders fearing, “What if my elder brother comes and takes me
home! But now, I am determined not to return home, and want
to perform austerities and help people attain moksha.” He walked
briskly on, and soon reached the bank of the Saryu.
It was the morning of 29 June 1792 CE (Ashadh sud 10, Samvat
year 1849). There was a faint drizzle. The Saryu was, however,
in flood, and was overflowing from both its banks, Ghanshyam
stood on the banks, with a resolve to dive into the Saryu and
cross it.
Meanwhile, Kaliya, a leader of the asurs, sent the evil Kaushik
with instructions to kill Ghanshyam. Kaushik came from behind
stealthily, like a cat, and, with one blow, hurled little Ghanshyam
into the flood waters of the Saryu. Ghanshyam was carried away
by the floods and, within a short time, disappeared from sight.
Pleased with himself, Kaushik went to convey the good news
to his chief, Kaliya.
47. OCEANS OF TEARS
At home, when Rampratapbhai and Suvasinibhabhi woke up
they found that Ghanshyam was not in his bed. They thought,
“Perhaps he has risen a little earlier then usual, and has gone to
take an early bath. He will come back soon.” Rampratapbhai went
away to work in his field as usual. Bhabhi prepared breakfast, and
then started cooking the midday meal. In the busy hours of the
morning, they forgot about Ghanshyam for a while.
But soon Bhabhi began to worry, “It is almost noon. Why hasn’t
Ghanshyam returned from his bath?” For a long time she waited
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for Ghanshyam to return so that they could have their meal
together. But there was no sign of Ghanshyam, and her anxiety
increased. She called Ghanshyam’s friends and asked them,
“Where is Ghanshyam? Have you seen him? Why has he not come
back still? Do you know where he has gone?”
But his friends replied, “We do not know. He did not come
with us. When we went to the river for our bath, he was not
there. He did not come with us to bathe.” Bhabhi became more
anxious than ever. She went to the houses of all the relatives in
search of Ghanshyam. She enquired at the houses of Lakshmibai,
Chandanmasi and others, but no one knew where Ghanshyam
was. It was evening by then. Suvasinibhabhi sent a man to the
farm to call Rampratapbhai home. When he came, she told him
that Ghanshyam had not returned, and no one knew where he
had gone.
Rampratapbhai, too, became deeply worried. He went and
looked in all the mandirs where Ghanshyam used to go for
darshan; but Ghanshyam could not be found. He then searched
on the banks of the river Saryu, in the orchard of rose-apple trees,
on the outskirts of the village, in the fields of Veni, Madhav and
Prag; in fact, he searched all those places which Ghanshyam was
in the habit of visiting, but nowhere could he find him.
Ghanshyam’s younger brother, Ichchharam, would ask,
“Bhabhi, where has Ghanshyam gone? I do not like it in the house
without him. Please bring him home.” But Bhabhi had no answer.
She was grief-stricken beyond words, and cried her heart out.
Even Ghanshyam’s friends were in no mood to play without him.
Everyone asked, “Where is Ghanshyam? Where is Ghanshyam?”
But no one could answer. Every now and then, his friends came
enquiring, “Have you found Ghanshyam? We haven’t found him,
either. We went round all the places, and looked for him in the
streets, in the village square, in the fields, everywhere, but he
is not to be found anywhere. Where could he have gone? What
Oceans of Tears
93
could have happened to him? Why has he not come back?”
For Rampratapbhai it was unbearable. He was speechless
with sorrow. His eyes were wet with tears. The relatives who had
been looking everywhere also gave up the search as hopeless. It
was now almost dark. Night was approaching. Still there were
a few who, with lamps in their hands, continued the search for
Ghanshyam, however bleak the chances of finding him.
At home, there was no end to Bhabhi’s wailing. Ichchharamji,
too, was also crying ceaselessly. Ghanshyam’s friends were also
in agony. Ghanshyam was the darling of them all. There was
lamentation in every home of Ayodhya. Bhabhi was haunted by
imaginary fears about Ghanshyam’s safety, “What if he has been
torn to pieces and devoured by a tiger or a wolf in the jungle? Or
maybe he has been bitten by a poisonous snake? Or swallowed by
a crocodile in the river?” Such fearful thoughts would cross her
worried mind, and she cried all the more.
Finally, the thought arose, “Could he have left home for
good, donned a sadhu’s garb, and gone out into the forests to do
Rampratapbhai and Suvasinibhabhi lament the parting of Ghanshyam
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Ghanashyam Charitra
austerities, because he was rebuked by his elder brother yesterday?
But his clothes and his sandals are still here. How would he walk
barefoot? How would he keep well in the rain? How would he
bear the cold and the heat, barebodied as he must be? Who would
feed him in the jungle? How would Ghanshyam, who was used
to eating curds, milk and sweets everyday, now like eating the
wild fruits and leaves of the jungle? The wild animals will devour
him.” Such thoughts would make her cry even more.
After going everywhere and searching all the places over
and over again, Rampratapbhai, exhausted and disheartened,
returned home at midnight. Ghanshyam could not be found.
Rampratapbhai’s endurance was at breaking point. The agony
was terrible. Both he and his wife cried out to God for help, “O
God! Please find our Ghanshyam for us. Our hearts are broken. It
is unbearable. O Lord! Take us away, if you like; but give us back
our Ghanshyam, who is dearer to us than our own lives. O God!
Please find Ghanshyam for us. People will accuse us, saying, that
brother and bhabhi drove him out! Some will say that Ghanshyam
has gone away because his brother and bhabhi harassed him
beyond endurance. We promise to do as he wishes.”
In this way they both continued to lament. Night passed and
morning came. Rampratapbhai sent men with horses in all directions
in a last desperate search for Ghanshyam. Rampratapbhai stopped
going to his farm to work. No one took any food. No one liked to
eat. Ichchharam kept on crying the whole day, remembering his
brother all the time. Thus, days passed, five days, then ten. But
no news of Ghanshyam came. Everybody was utterly, hopelessly
grief-stricken. As people said later, oceans of tears were shed by
Ichchharam and Suvasinibhabhi, who very often suddenly woke
up from their sleep, bewildered and distraught, and cried out,
“Ghanshyam! Ghanshyam!”
The whole city of Ayodhya was plunged into grief, unspeakable
grief, and felt abandoned and desolate.
Glossary
95
Pledge: Ame Sau Swamina Balak...
We are the children of Swami; we will die for him. We are
the youths of Shriji Maharaj; we will fight for him. We are
fearless; we will not shirk sacrificing our lives, for we are born
to die. We have launched this movement and will undergo
any suffering. We will sing the praises of Akshar-Purushottam.
We are the sons of Shriji Maharaj; we have our abode in Akshar.
Consecrated as we are to swadharma (religious faith), we
have no apprehension whatsoever. Lord Purushottam and
Akshar, Gunatitanand Swami, are with us. We have accomplished
our goal.
GLOSSARY
A
Akshardham
ashwamedh
asan
The vast, immeasurable and all pervading
divine abode of Bhagwan Swaminarayan.
Celestial damsels who reside in the sky and are
regarded as the wives of the Gandharvas. They
can change their shapes and are endowed with
superhuman powers.
A special type of yagna ceremony.
A seat.
B
balprabhu
bawas
bhagwan
bharatbhumi
Child-God.
Ascetics, sadhus.
God.
Hindustan, India.
C
chusni
A piece of wood or ivory for a child to suck.
apsara
96
D
dakshina
dvait
G
gita
Ghanashyam Charitra
A gift given to Brahmins or priests at the end of
a religious ceremony.
One of the beliefs of Vedant philosophy.
gulal
The great philosophical poem, a part of the
epic Mahabharat.
A red powder.
I
ishtadev
One’s most cherished deity.
J
jiva
Soul.
K
khes
krityas
A loose cloth worn over the shoulders.
Demonesses.
L
lakshmiji
Goddess of fortune, prosperity and beauty.
M
mandap
mahant
mumukshus
Canopied hall.
Head of a mandir.
One who desires to attain moksha.
N
nyay
One of the six systems of Indian philosophy.
P
patasa
Sugar-cake.
Glossary
R
rakshas
S
sankhya
sampraday
shiro
T
thakorji
tilak
U
upanishads
V
vedas
Y
yoga
97
Demons.
One of the six systems of Indian philosophy.
Traditional handing down of knowledge
through successive preceptors; religious
organization.
a sweet dish made of wheat flour, ghee, milk
and sugar.
Murti of God.
A mark made with sandalwood paste on the
forehead.
Philosophical part of the Vedas.
The sacred shastras of the Hindus that are the
oldest in the world.
One of the systems of Indian philosophy.